The Lamar Village shopping corner has experienced a mass exodus of businesses at the corner of 38th Street and North Lamar Boulevard.

The property is being vacated to make way for a new vertical mixed-use project, said David Bodenman, vice president for Highland Resources Inc., which plans to develop the corner. Bodenman could not reveal details about the development except to say that retail shops would occupy the first floor, and offices would make up the rest of the building.

"Existing tenants were invited to look for alternate locations," he said. "If they were able to locate one they were happy with and were able to leave, they could do so with no penalty."

Business such as Precision Camera found a new home on West Anderson Lane, he said, and Russell Korman Fine Jewelry, Diamonds & Watches re-established on Burnet Road. All remaining businesses will vacate by the end of December.

The Rosedale Neighborhood Association has not objected to the project because no zoning change is necessary to ensure its completion, said Chris Allen, co-chairman of the association's zoning committee.

"We're happy to see the ground-floor retail because that's a pretty busy commercial corner," Allen said.