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May 28, 2005
This is not good
From The Anniston Star:
Environmental concerns delay new Oxford mall construction
By Rob Jordan
Star Staff Writer
05-25-2005
Concerns about adverse impact on a wetland area will delay construction of a large open-air mall in Oxford.
Officials with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently met with engineers, city officials and environmental regulators to discuss the planned filling of a one-acre wetland area that stretches along 3,000 feet of an unnamed tributary of Choccolocco Creek at the construction site.
The retail center, to be built on 70 acres at Interstate 20 and the Morgan Road extension, was set to open partially in July 2006. Representatives of the developer, Abernathy & Timberlake Investment Group, LLC of Duluth, Ga., could not be reached for comment on whether the delay would push back the opening date.
The development would fill two wetland areas totaling slightly more than four acres, according to a wetland impact permit application filed with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. In response to EPA concerns about storm-water runoff and erosion along the stream, the corps of engineers has extended a recently closed public comment period about the project until June 3.
In coming days, environmental regulators will study the situation and examine public feedback, according to EPA spokeswoman Dawn Harris-Young.
Both city officials and the developer have declined to comment on potential tenants, other than to say all will be new to the area. The planned shopping center will be comparable in size to the 726,000-square-foot Quintard Mall. It will feature two big-box stores and 20-30 smaller stores and restaurants, all directly accessible from the outside.
City officials and Abernathy & Timberlake representatives have declined to identify the two retailers set to open anchor stores at the site. A recent public notice about the city's permit application with the Army Corps of Engineers stated that retail giants Target and Home Depot were listed in the city's plans. While a Home Depot spokesman has said the company is 'reinvestigating' building a store in Oxford, Target representatives have not returned calls seeking comment.
Oxford officials have said they will spend about $6 million on site preparation and road improvement for the project, which, officials say, will bring more than $7 million in annual tax revenue and 900 or more jobs.
Posted by Chris at May 28, 2005 08:39 PM