Developer: 'City sold itself'

Anchor stores to be announce Friday

Tuesday, May 3, 2005

BY JOHN R. PULLIAM

The Register-Mail

GALESBURG - Officials expect to announce Friday the identity of the two anchor stores for the retail development planned for 140 acres on the southeast corner of North Seminary Street and U.S. 34, north of Hawthorne Centre. The complex will extend east to the BNSF Railway tracks.

Michael Patterson, the development manager for Horne Properties of Knoxville, Tenn., said the goal was to announce the anchor stores at Monday's Galesburg City Council meeting, but everything that had to be accomplished in order to do that was not done in time.

The City Council received the petition to annex the property.

"This is the first step in the annexation process," City Manager Gary Goddard said. A number of hearings will be needed to annex the property. The developer will then ask for a zoning change. The property is now zoned R, rural residence, by Knox County.

Before the council meeting, Patterson said the first phase of what is expected to be a two- to three-phase project will be about 400,000 square feet. "We hope to start (construction) maybe by the end of July or early August." He said the building phase will last about six months, although because it will be put on hold during the winter, the center is not expected to open until 2006.

Patterson said the development will be in excess of 700,000 square feet.

According to Patterson, "major" improvements will be made along Seminary Street and Carl Sandburg Drive, as well as to the intersection of those two streets.

Goddard said last week the development will not consist of a bunch of discount stores but will include speciality stores, boutiques and sit-down restaurants.

Patterson told the City Council Horne Properties has worked with many of these companies over a long period of time.

"So 20 years from now, they'll still be here," he said. "These are good tenants."

Patterson had good things to say about Galesburg and its location.

"I think Galesburg is a great market." He noted the city's proximity to the Quad Cities, Peoria, Chicago and St. Louis.

Patterson told the council, "Really, for us in doing extensive demographic research ... I tell you Galesburg has a lot to offer. The city sold itself."

Patterson said he would not characterize the development as a strip mall. He said the stores will be separated from each other. He also said it was not exactly like the Shoppes at Grand Prairie in Peoria, but "there will be aspects of that. ..."

Patterson said he doesn't think the new development will hurt Sandburg Mall or detract from it in any way.