Did we just get screwed out of a Target?
May 22nd, 2006 by Atomictumor
The Oak Ridger today announces that the AMSE, in the process of pimping out 12 acres of land to squealing excited developers all over town, have passed up the previously mention Graham Corp proposal in favor of one from GBT Reality. Graham was talking big and bad about bringing a Target and Lowe’s to town, and according to Oak Ridger’s coverage, GBT is weighing in with a weenier selection:
“ Joe Lenhard, chairman of the museum foundation’s proposal review committee, said the GBT proposal includes stores a quarter the size of “big-box” stores like Target and Lowe’s, and also includes an upscale restaurant on South Illinois Avenue.”
Oooo, an upscale restaurant. Looks like the Blue Hound has some competition!
Now, these plans apparently screwed the great Oak Ridge Mall redevelopment pooch when Arnsdorf called out the council for upsetting the great Oak Ridge development plan, which he stated he had first dibs on. This halted demolition, which as I understand it is now on a race with the I-75 West Hills exit and the slow demise of the sun to see which will be completed first.
My money’s on the sun, because it looks shifty.
May 22nd, 2006 at 11:50 pm
Sure wish I knew what happened here… was really looking forward to a Target, hoping that maybe no one told them they’re supposed to only carry leftover junk that doesn’t sell elsewhere in their Oak Ridge store.
The new Belk at Colonial Pinnacle (near Turkey Creek) has a much better selection, better pricing, and actually carries stuff in my size — even though the Oak Ridge store has to be double the square footage. Only problem is that I really, really like to keep my tax dollars here, so I only look.
If I had to, I guess I could buy it in Knoxville, return it in Oak Ridge, then buy it again. That’s how I got my microwave, since the Sears in OR didn’t carry the model I wanted.
Yup, betting between the demise of the sun and the completion of Arnsdorff’s project, the sun wins.