Article source for : Whitehouse Square Development
Excerpts from an April 1, 2008 Toledo Business Journal "article":http://www.toledobiz.com/News%20article%201.htm about a large development project planned for Whitehouse, Ohio :
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Plans for Whitehouse Square, a $150 million investment in Lucas County, are moving forward, and construction is set to begin in the next couple months. The project includes more than 320 acres of land, which is scheduled for development into residential, retail, office, and park facilities over the next five to seven years. Approximately 164 acres will include the development itself with 160 acres to be used for the park development.
The goal is to have about ten to 12 developers each working with a different portion of the site so that the majority of the project comes up around the same time.
“We want this to be a haven for independent business people,” stated Ray Wood, project manager. He has been working on urban developments for the past seven or eight years. “The markets that are coming [to this area] like [The Shops at] Fallen Timbers are only going to increase the traffic flow.” The Lucas County portion of the US 24 improvement project, scheduled for completion in 2010, will also help bring traffic to Whitehouse Square.
“This is a necessity up here,” stated Steve Gillenwater, operations manager, JCT Enterprises. “It can be a destination, and once 24 is put in, it’s going to be a destination.”
One of the first segments of the project is construction of CedarCreek Church, which is being led by Squires Development Co. Ltd. According to Wood, the church will serve as a huge draw for the entire site. The retail portion of the project will begin to take shape in the next year as well.
“We’re concentrating on the arts, the retailers, and the independent business people,” Wood explained. Whitehouse Square is targeting small hotels or bed and breakfasts, banquet facilities, grocery stores, used bookstores, restaurants, medical facilities, and other businesses to occupy the site. Wood is currently in talks with three medical groups and, while he is unable to name them at this time, he believes they are all close to making commitments to the site.
A key aspect of the retail portion of the site, Wood added, is that it not be a repetition of other shopping centers in the region. His goal is to get visitors from Ann Arbor and other locations as far as 50 miles away traveling to the site and spending a day at Whitehouse Square. One way to accomplish this goal is to bring artisan groups to teach arts while living on the site as well. Stores will be in front of the parking; the streets in front of the stores will be used for events such as art shows and farmers markets.
Wood also plans to have one store for each type of business. For example, he doesn’t want two flower shops competing against each other. “It’s not how fast you fill these [spaces] up, it’s how fast you can sustain them,” he stated. “We have to stimulate interest with investors, businesspeople, the artisans, and the community in whole.”
“We’re trying to make this a destination for people,” Wood added. “It’s not just a shopping area, but it’s a destination. We’re taking out some of the glitz and glamour of the commercialized stuff you find at [other lifestyle centers] and making it a little bit more of a down to earth feel.”
Additionally, the water quarry may be reopened in a few years as a water park. A group has also shown interest in locating an indoor sports facility for hockey and soccer at Whitehouse Square. A dog park is also a possibility down the road.
According to Wood, Whitehouse Square will be a traditional neighborhood with various types of housing including apartments, villas, townhouses, and cottages mixed in with the retail areas. The goal is to attain a population of approximately 1,200 to 1,500 people within five minutes walking distance to the retail stores. Assisted living units are also planned for the site; for example, Miller Valentine Group has an option on a piece of land for a senior housing village. Wood stated that he would know by June whether or not Miller Valentine would be moving forward with the project.
Construction of the residential facilities will follow the commercial development. Wood explained that the housing market should be more attractive to developers in about two years. He added that the cost of housing would be affordable. For example, the most expensive home will be approximately $179,000 and some of the townhouses will be sold at about $129,000.
“Not only are the homes affordable, but you can leave your car in the garage, get on a golf cart, and go wherever you need,” Wood stated. Gillenwater also stressed the advantages Whitehouse Square will have for those who work on the site. He explained that it would create a relaxing work environment for people to walk around during their lunch breaks or before and after their shifts. “The whole concept is to work, live, and play in the same neighborhood,” Wood stated.
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