Winchester Marketplace alive and well?
February 23, 2012
By Vic Bradshaw
The Winchester Star
Site work has begun for the Spring Street commercial project.
WINCHESTER- The site being cleared at one of the city’s major commercial intersections isn’t an indication that construction is about to begin for a big
retail store.
But Jay Donegan said work on the property adjacent to the Kmart on South Pleasant Valley Road is a sign that more changes are planned at that location.
“I think for many years the property has kind of languished, and there’s been some question as to if and when it would be developed,” said Donegan,
founder and principal of J. Donegan Co. in Vienna. “I wanted to put that to
rest and let the retail market and community know that I am committed to developing the property.”
The 8.4 acres of land that extends from Kmart’s property line to Spring
Street is the future home of Winchester Marketplace. It uses parcels at
201 and 222 Spring St. and 1523 S. Pleasant Valley Road.
Machinery grinds tree limbs Monday afternoon as site work begins on the Spring Street commercial project.
The land is bordered on the west by CSX railroad property.
The Pleasant Valley Road lot has 138 feet of frontage between
the Kmart and Jiffy Lube sites.
Spring Street would be extended to provide access to the development, traveling through the properties and connecting
to a right of way in Kmart’s lot that the city government has
claimed for public use via eminent domain.
That would leave 6 acres for development west of the new
Spring Street and 2.5 acres to the east. The entrances would
be from Spring Street and the signalized intersection on
Pleasant Valley Road.
Residents of Spring Street and Greystone Terrace opposed the project in 2009 and 2011, fearing commercial development so near their homes. But City Council voted in August to approve a rezoning request and proffer modifications needed for the development.
Donegan said clearing, grading and other site-preparation work is being done on the land. No site plans or other construction-related documents have been submitted to city officials for approval.
Donegan said he’s “excited about the prospects for development” but has no commitments from tenants.
“I think it’s time to get started,” he said, “and while we don’t have any commitments, we’re confident in the prospects. I’m confident in the location with all the good things that are happening in the Winchester market, and I want to let the world know we’re coming and committed.”
Vienna-based Rosenthal Properties is actively marketing the property, Donegan said.
- Contact Vic Bradshaw at
vbradshaw@winchesterstar.com
