New development moving forward.
A little over a year after I indicated that plans were underway to redevelop a prime parcel at Toco Hill, work has finally begun. The 1.4 acre parcel directly in front of the Kroger on LaVista Road was cleared of trees on this past Thursday and Friday, while the old home on the property had been demolished years ago.
The new center, tentatively called "Shops at LaVista," is to include 12,500 square feet of retail space over three suites. This is up from the 11,000 square foot total that was quoted to me last year by the property's developer, Sandy Springs-based Crim & Associates. Additionally, the earlier plans included a drive-thru for one tenant, something that has since been eliminated.
The property and the home that once stood there was for many years the Arnall residence. The Shepherd family never controlled that parcel, and as such, are not involved in this project. To that end, there will no access from the new center to the Kroger portion of the center. The only way to access the center will be from a dual entrance/exit on LaVista Road.
The three suites will be 7,500, 3,200, and 1,800 square feet, respectively, and will reportedly be all retail. Although I was unable to get confirmation of any of the tenants, sources say all three leases have been executed and that none of them will be Mattress Firm. Given the sizes, wireless carriers and chain dental offices are possible tenants for the smaller suites.
"Crim Development is building an 11,000 a 12,500 square foot retail building on the last undeveloped site in the Toco Hills Shopping Center. The site on Lavista Road in front of Kroger has been pursued by retails and developers for 50 years. Issues that prevented development of the site have been cleared through court order."
The redevelopment of the property meant clear-cutting the parcel of many mature trees of which only a few remain. It is unclear if the developer has plans to include the remaining mature trees in their redevelopment plans, but I, for one, hope they do.
A site plan for the project indicates the new building will include 59 new parking spaces.
The Toco Hills parcel is the third previously undeveloped parcel in the area to be redeveloped, or with a planned redevelopment, in the past couple of years.
The 11.5 acre Grand Slam Golf & Baseball facility on North Druid Hills Road closed earlier this month and will soon be cleared for a new townhome development.
Another townhome development is currently underway on Briarcliff Road between Fisher Trail and Clairmont Road. This project represents the development of a nearly seven acre, previously wooded parcel.
Plans call for the Crim project to be completed in October.
What would you like to see open in this new center? What is your oldest memory of Toco Hills? Are you excited about the changes in the Toco Hills area?
Please share your thoughts below.