Annexation first step to retail center

Council to consider petition to bring 140 acres into town

Saturday, April 30, 2005

By JOHN R. PULLIAM

of The Register-Mail

GALESBURG - The first step in what may become the largest retail and office development here since Sandburg Mall more than 25 years ago will be taken at Monday's meeting of the Galesburg City Council.

After a reception at 6:30 p.m. in the rotunda of City Hall, 55 W. Tompkins St., to honor outgoing and newly elected officials, the regular portion of the meeting will begin at 7:30 p.m. in council chambers.

The City Council will receive a petition to annex about 140 acres on the southeast corner of North Seminary Street and U.S. 34, north of Hawthorne Centre. City Manager Gary Goddard said the petition is the first step in the annexation process. A number of hearings before various city commissions are required.

Asked how long the procedure should take, Goddard said "60 days will probably be the long end of it. We might even be able to put it together sooner."

Horne Properties of Knoxville, Tenn., is the developer. Goddard said the city has "very preliminary" information so far and it has not been told what companies will be locating in the complex.

There have been rumors for years that Wal-Mart plans to build a Super Wal-Mart here. Goddard declined to comment on whether the huge discount chain does or does not plan to locate in the new development, but his comments indicated it is unlikely to locate at this property.

Asked if the development would be considered "upscale," Goddard said, "I wouldn't say upscale, but I would say it isn't a bunch of discount stores by any means."

He said the mix will include specialty stores, boutiques and sit-down restaurants.

"It's appropriate development for the community and the target market they're seeking," he said. "They will be announcing them (the occupants) very shortly, possibly within the week."

Goddard said the city will definitely know the names of the companies and what the development will look like before the council's May 16 meeting. He said based on the preliminary plan, the development will be "very impressive."

He added the city is not aware of when Horne Properties plans to begin construction.

A woman who answered the phone at Horne Properties said each development is assigned a project manager who handles publicity.

"That's not been assigned to anyone yet," she said. "It's just in the beginning stages."

Goddard said the development is from the Sandburg Drive/Seminary Street area to U.S. 34, then east to the BNSF tracks.

Once the land is annexed, the developer will ask for a zoning change. The land is now zoned R, rural residence, by Knox County.

"The city has been concentrating on retail and commercial development as our part of economic development," Goddard said. "Any retail or commercial out there will work really well, especially with the population that is usually at Hawthorne Centre. What could be better?"