Ongoing renovations on The Shoppes at Oak Ridge North have given the exterior of the shopping center a facelift. But the exterior is not the only visible change at the shopping center, as new businesses have already begun repopulating the I-45 retail complex.
"We expect it to be a thriving center," City Manager Vicky Rudy said. "Each business which comes in enhances that property."
Mattress One and Weightloss Texas moved into the shopping center in August following the completion on renovations of the center's exterior. Economic Development Coordinator Susan Cates said about 20,000 square feet of retail space is still available, which could house anywhere from two to six more retailers. A pad site on the property—anchored by Hodge's Food Basket—could also potentially feature a restaurant or other types of retailers.
Grocers Supply owns the shopping center property and is funding the renovations, which Oak Ridge North has agreed to reimburse up to $175,000 for different portions of the improvements.
The landscaping improvements await the completion of a water line along I-45 that the city began constructing in early October, a project that should take 60 days to complete. Rudy said the water line costs about $600,000 and will provide fire suppression to businesses along I-45. Cates said The Shoppes at Oak Ridge North may have been slow to fill in because of the lack of fire suppression, which is now required by code for restaurants and some businesses.
"We've been talking about the hotel project going in at the corner [of Robinson Road and I-45]," Cates said. "They're going to have to have increased water pressure to provide water for a hotel project. So, any development that's going on in that area is going to need that extra capacity."
Contracts for another significant development along I-45–two hotels and a conference center–could be finalized in December, Rudy said. She and Cates said they believe the city's first hotels could lead to more economic development.
Although new businesses have moved into the city in recent months, the city continues employing development strategies. Cates said the city would have a booth at the upcoming International Council of Shopping Centers event in November in Dallas, targeting niche businesses, such as restaurants, coffee shops and dry cleaners.
"We're actually going to have a booth and have a presence at that to make sure that everyone knows where Oak Ridge North is and what we have to offer to the retail world," Cates said.
The City Council has also approved new zoning ordinances to encourage specific development in various sections of the city. Rudy said the city created a mixed use manufacturing district for recently annexed property that will consist of retail and manufacturing.
Property included in the district includes land south of City Hall owned by the developer of Hanna Business Park, who hopes to construct a similar development at the location. The developer—GHRS, LLC.—also owns land east of Hanna Road along Robinson Road that is included within the new district.
Oak Ridge North also created a plaza district along Robinson Road that includes City Hall and several businesses along Robinson. The area could eventually house the city's town center, an idea proposed during the city's comprehensive plan process.
"It will leave [the area] open to some creativity at this early juncture, because we don't know exactly what [the town center] will look like yet," Rudy said. "But it also protects it from development that wouldn't be conducive to a town center."
