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May 3, 2009 (continued) South Lake commercial spurt brings Sam's Club (continued) The new warehouse retail store is part of the proposed Tuscany Village shopping center, straddling Hammock Ridge Road. Construction is expected to start within a year, and plans show the Sam's Club will include a gas station and carwash. It would be the second wholesale club in that area. A BJ's Wholesale Club is scheduled to open by early summer at the developing Clermont Crossings shopping center at Steve's Road, just more than a mile from Tuscany Village. The proposed new Sam's Club shows that commercial growth in the Clermont area — especially along the U.S. 27 corridor — is continuing even with a near-standstill in new-home construction. Last month, a 16-screen movie theater opened at the new Clermont Landing shopping center on the northeast quadrant of Steve's Road and U.S. 27. Clermont Landing opened in March and features a J.C. Penney, Ross Dress for Less and TJ Maxx retailers, among others. Orlando-based Darden Restaurants also opened a Red Lobster and Olive Garden at that location in November. "What you have is a classic situation: Birds of a feather flock together," said Britt Beemer, an Orlando-based retail consultant and chairman of America's Research Group. "Someone will open a store, and everyone sees how well they did, and then retailers say, 'Hey, we missed this spot.'" Beemer pointed out the commercial growth is following south Lake's surge in new homes in recent years, making the area "under-stored" for all those residents. Clustered commercial In effect, that area of south Lake is evolving into a regional retail center where a number of stores — big and small — are clustered. The area near State Road 46 and Interstate 4 where Seminole Towne Center is located is an example of a regional retail center. Clermont also is intersected by two major thoroughfares — U.S. 27 and S.R 50 — used by tens of thousands of vehicles every day. But the area's strong commercial surge may start showing signs of waning. From January through March this year, Clermont issued 10 commercial permits, whereas during that same time period in 2008, the city handed out 25 commercial permits. Altogether, Clermont issued 42 commercial permits in 2008, six fewer than in 2007. "It has slowed down a little bit," said Jim Hitt, Clermont's planning director. "But I think that once BJ's opens, we'll see more permits coming in" from smaller retailers for the remaining space at Clermont Crossings. Flippers Pizza and A+ Pediatrics have signed on as tenants at Clermont Crossings. S.R. 50 growth slower But whereas commercial growth has boomed along U.S. 27, it has slowed along S.R. 50 west of Florida's Turnpike. Talks of a proposed The Hills at Clermont on S.R. 50 and Emil Jahna Road, for example, have stopped, according to city officials. Preliminary plans showed a 400,000-square-foot shopping center would likely have included a Best Buy, Dick's Sporting Goods, Toys "R" Us and Bed, Bath & Beyond. Then there's the much-ballyhooed Plaza Collina, at Lake Boulevard and Old Highway 50. Plaza Collina is proposed to have 1.2 million square feet of space, including stores, restaurants and offices. But it sits undeveloped. "We essentially got caught in the economy," said Joe Russo, executive real-estate director for Plaza Collina builder Phoenicia Development. "But we're very confident that the market will be back in 12 months." Martin E. Comas can be reached at mcomas@orlandosentinel.com or 352-742-5927. In the works Tuscany Village •U.S. 27 at Hammock Ridge Road. •Construction is expected to start within a year. Clermont Crossings •U.S. 27 at Steve's Road. •In development. The Hills at Clermont •S.R. 50 at Emil Jahna Road. •Talks about preliminary plans have stopped. Plaza Collina •Old Highway 50 at Lake Boulevard. •Land remains undeveloped. |
