Retail growth in works on city's East Side

Company's website shows proposed East Side development.

The early stages of planning for a new shopping center on Greencastle's Eastside have begun with an Arizona-based development company expressing interest in the property.

Officials with the Sandor Development Company of Scottsdale, Ariz. have acquired the option to buy approximately 25-30 acres of land just east of the Wal-Mart supercenter to construct a new retail center.

According to Dave Goldman, leasing executive with Sandor, the company is moving forward with its newest Greencastle project, to be called "The Market at Ballard Farm." Goldman said he is working with several national and regional tenants to potentially move into the new shopping center.

A map posted on the company's website shows a large building area for a "home improvement store," plus 14 smaller spaces to the west, all lined up with the existing Wal-Mart. The map also shows five outlots proposed for construction along the south side of Ind. 240 with a large parking lot behind them.

The largest space, according to the map, is 10,000 square feet with smaller ones around 4,900 square feet and 1,200 square feet.

Meanwhile, Goldman said the company is continuing to move forward with leasing spaces in its existing shopping center located on the east side of Kroger on Indianapolis Road. Sandor completed construction of its Kroger Plaza center earlier this year.

So far, Goldman said leases have been secured for Rent-A-Center, Papa Murphy's Pizza, Advance America and Citi Financial. Work began on those stores in the last several weeks. There are still several empty spaces that have not been leased.

Director of the Greencastle/Putnam County Development Center, Bill Dory told the BannerGraphic that it is not unusual for developers like Sandor to obtain options to purchase pieces of property while they gather information and seek interest from potential clients.

In addition, Dory said surveys of the Ballard property are being done right now and a topographic map is being produced. The map will show the lay of the land and will give potential developers a better idea of what to expect if and when they start moving dirt.

Dory said he has been in contact with officials at Sandor and has encouraged them to seek businesses that would be new to Greencastle.

"We have encouraged them to look for gaps in the market place," Dory said.

He said that while it is fine for existing businesses to relocate to a new building, it is desirable for new companies to move to Greencastle and offer shoppers something they don't already have. Goldman said he wants the public to know that he is seeking their ideas on what types of stores they would like to see come to Greencastle.

"I am personally working with a number of national and regional tenants and I'm asking the people of Greencastle to help us by going out and supporting their local businesses and spreading the word about our future and existing shopping centers in town," Goldman said.

The company has set up a special e-mail where people can write to express their ideas for the project. The address is greencastle@sandordev.com.