STEELE CREEK NEWS

Neighbors Hear about Plans for New Retail Center at Steele Creek Town Center

(May 21, 2004) Chris Thomas, David Haggart, and other representatives of Childress Klein Properties presented plans for a new retail center at the corner of Highways 49 and 160 to several dozen attendees at a public meeting on May 18.

Childress Klein has applied for rezoning of the 86-acre site on the southeast corner of York Road (Highway 49) and the relocation of Steele Creek Road (Highway 160). The petition and other documents are available on the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Planning Commission's web site. (See Link to Rezoning Petition 2004-064.) Current zoning varies for different portions of the property. The petitioner is requesting a change for the entire property to CC and CC(SPA) (Commercial Center, Conditional and Commercial Center, Conditional, Site Plan Amendment). Most of the site is owned by Steele Creek (1997) Limited Partnership. Eight acres are owned by Pleasant Hill Presbyterian Church, and a picnic shelter currently is located there.

		The site plan sets aside about 11 acres of floodplain greenway plus other areas as open space, leaving about 70 acres available for development. The developers will dedicate land and build a greenway trail along Walker's Branch. The trail will be maintained by the Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation Department and is part of the county's master greenway plan. Retail area will be distributed among 20 or more separate buildings totaling about 600,000 square feet, about the same as at the Arboretum center at Providence Road and Highway 51. The center is expected to have two major anchor stores that will take up about half of the retail space. These have been placed toward the back of the center away from the highways. They will be positioned back-to-back so that loading docks and other utility areas will not be so noticeable to shoppers and neighbors.
Click on the image above for a enlargement of the conceptual site plan in PDF format. (You will need to download free Adobe Acrobat Reader to view this image.)

When asked if the rumored Super Target and Home Depot will occupy those anchor spots, Chris Thomas said that negotiations were still underway and the potential tenants have asked that their names not be revealed yet. He did say that Wal-Mart and Lowes Home Improvement Stores were not looking at the site since they both have stores up the road at Whitehall.

Also under consideration is a 12- or 14-screen cinema complex. In the middle of the center will be a pedestrian-friendly promenade surrounded by specialty shops.  Possible tenants in various buildings include a pharmacy, an office supply store, a bank, several restaurants, a book store, and a convenience store.

The developers plan to use upscale architectural and landscaping designs that will produce an attractive asset for the Lower Steele Creek Town Center intersection.  The first stores could open around spring 2006. The Charlotte City Council will hold a public hearing on the rezoning request. This likely will be during their July 19 meeting. Direct questions about the rezoning application to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Planning Commission at 704-336-2205 or to Chris Thomas or David Haggart at Childress Klein at 704-342-9000.
		Aerial view of site from Mecklenburg County's POLARIS (Property Ownership Land Records Information System) web site, with approximate project boundary in red. Property lines and road rights-of-way are in yellow.

The Lake Wylie Pilot says...

Steele Creek could be the next Ballantyne! Read their story about the proposed Childress Klein retail center: Steele Creek could see big retail center