Richmond Town Square is officially nomore, the signage at least:

 

Belle Oaks construction trailer in place as plans unfold for large Richmond Heights development

cle.com article 12/22/21.

cinema is closing and will be demolished

Project now might include a 159,000 sq.ft. stand alone Meijer.

 

Belle Oaks Website shows a newer site plan. 

791 apartment units, 375 in Phase I.

I hate to sound negative about this project, but it really doesn't sound that unique or what we should be striving for in 2022.  Minus the retail-on a parcel that already had a significant retail history-it doesn't seem much different than say a large garden style apartment complex built in the 1970s on some green field off of a highway inter-change.  Especially with all the surface parking.

^ I agree, but it's still a productive reuse to a dead and decaying mall and the addition of much needed modern housing in a county that is built out. We talk about NEO being over retailed - this project, even with the new retail, is wiping off a massive amount of empty space. Cleveland has been lucky as of late with our dead malls being redeveloped (next up, University Square!).

 

With this project being built in phases, I hope we see some of the future phases incorporate a variety of different housing types, such as some townhomes. I think that would help the project stand up better over the long run. 

On 12/26/2021 at 10:04 AM, PoshSteve said:

^ I agree, but it's still a productive reuse to a dead and decaying mall and the addition of much needed modern housing in a county that is built out. We talk about NEO being over retailed - this project, even with the new retail, is wiping off a massive amount of empty space. Cleveland has been lucky as of late with our dead malls being redeveloped (next up, University Square!).

 

With this project being built in phases, I hope we see some of the future phases incorporate a variety of different housing types, such as some townhomes. I think that would help the project stand up better over the long run. 

Not enthralled with this redevelopment either, but at least it will get rid of that dead mall sooner, much sooner, than later.  When one looks at some of the other former dead malls in the area (Euclid Square, Randall Park and Rolling Acres), it did not languish as a vacant or nearly vacant mall with no anchor tenants for decades allowing it to decay posing other problems like those malls.  The whole project seems to be fluid.  Originally, the theater was going to remain as a part of the redevelopment, but now it won't and will be demolished.  The addition of Meijer's is a welcome one as it will offer a good alternative to the Giant Eagle-dominance (as Dave's is closely linked with that chain) aside from Heinen's, Aldi's and Marc's.

 

Some of the decisions and announcements made on this project were head-scratchers.  Never understood why DealPoint Merrill came out with the announcement regarding the project for the entire site long before it ever had control of the mall property and the former JCPenney building.  It put too much power in the hands of Kohan Retail Investment Group, the mall's owner at the time.     

 

As for retail redevelopment, Severance needs to be added into the mix.  Aside from Home Depot, the vacancy situation has been getting worse at Severance, too.

Edited December 29, 20213 yr by LifeLongClevelander

On 12/26/2021 at 12:03 PM, LifeLongClevelander said:

Not enthralled with this redevelopment either, but at least it will get rid of that dead mall sooner, much sooner, than later.  When one looks at some of the other former dead malls in the area (Euclid Square, Randall Park and Rolling Acres), it did not languish as a vacant or nearly vacant mall with no anchor tenants for decades allowing it to decay posing other problems like those malls.  The whole project seems to be fluid.  Originally, the theater was going to remain as a part of the redevelopment, but now it won't and will be demolished.  The addition of Meier's is a welcome one as it will offer a good alternative to the Giant Eagle-dominance (as Dave's is closely linked with that chain) aside from Heinen's, Aldi's and Marc's.

 

Some of the decisions and announcements made on this project were head-scratchers.  Never understood why DealPoint Merrill came out with the announcement regarding the project for the entire site long before it ever had control of the mall property and the former JCPenney building.  It put too much power in the hands of Kohan Retail Investment Group, the mall's owner at the time.     

 

As for retail redevelopment, Severance needs to be added into the mix.  Aside from Home Depot, the vacancy situation has been getting worse at Severance, too.

 

Agreed, the development has been haphazard, if not bass-ackwards.  DPM originally got involved several years ago when it converted the Macy's building to a self-storage site.  Pretty unambitious, but apparently they liked what they saw on the ground because they bought the rest of the property and (slowly, but surely) developed a pretty nice mix of residential and retail that is (unfortunately) still pretty unique for inner-ring burbs in NEO.  The Meijer's is a huge coup for Hillcrest, as it will be the sole full-size Meijer's on the east side of Cuyahoga County.

 

It's too bad DPM already sunk in about $10M into the Macy's/self-storage site because it's a huge dead spot in an otherwise exciting mixed-use environment.  I'd rather that building get knocked down than the 20-screen theater, but what can you do?

1 hour ago, Down_with_Ctown said:

 

Agreed, the development has been haphazard, if not bass-ackwards.  DPM originally got involved several years ago when it converted the Macy's building to a self-storage site.  Pretty unambitious, but apparently they liked what they saw on the ground because they bought the rest of the property and (slowly, but surely) developed a pretty nice mix of residential and retail that is (unfortunately) still pretty unique for inner-ring burbs in NEO.  The Meijer's is a huge coup for Hillcrest, as it will be the sole full-size Meijer's on the east side of Cuyahoga County.

 

It's too bad DPM already sunk in about $10M into the Macy's/self-storage site because it's a huge dead spot in an otherwise exciting mixed-use environment.  I'd rather that building get knocked down than the 20-screen theater, but what can you do?

The loss of the theater is probably a gain for the development.  That theater has been a rather poor one for many years, long before the pandemic.  The final nail for the the theater was probably the pandemic itself.  Agree that the storage facility does nothing to enhance the project.  The one possibility is that the Belle Oaks apartment residents may be able to store their extra stuff relatively close to where they live.  I am glad that Meijer's is coming to the eastern area of the county.  It will provide significant competition to the dominance of Giant Eagle.

 

I am curious to see what the final development turns out to be.  It seems that every month or two there are rather significant changes to what is going to be in the final result.  DPM ended up shafting themselves by announcing plans, even the initial one for just the north end of the mall property that was acquired from Sears long before securing all of the mall property.  It gave massive leverage to Kohan when there was no need to do so and probably cost them significantly more in the acquisition price.  DPM should have quietly made the acquisition of the Sears property, perhaps even under a different corporate entity, with no development specified.  Kohan was already getting heat from the city for the neglect and decay of the mall itself and knowing that luxury apartments were coming, gave him the upper hand.  That was a foolish and costly business decision by DPM.

Progress in the Richmond Town Square to Belle Oaks transformation:

 

RICHMOND HEIGHTS, Ohio -- City Council’s Planning & Zoning Committee gave its approval Tuesday (Oct. 4) to plans for two buildings that make up part of phase one of the Belle Oaks Marketplace mixed-use development project at the former Richmond Town Square mall site.

 

 

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.cleveland.com/community/2022/10/richmond-heights-council-committee-approves-plans-for-final-two-buildings-of-bell-oaks-first-phase.html%3foutputType=amp

With another Belle Oaks hurdle cleared, Richmond Heights economic developer says 2023 ‘should be very exciting’

Cle.com article hinting at some possible spinoff development, but nothing official. 

 

Also these Cle.com articles about the potential sale of the church property next door.

Sale of church property abutting Belle Oaks in Richmond Heights remains under discussion

Potential sale of church site to Richmond Heights mall developer a hot topic

 

Should we be excited that DealPoint Merrill is trying to purchase another 4.12 acres next door before their $260 million project has barely started?

 

 

 

Edited January 3, 20232 yr by WhatUp
more info

Today there was digging in the parking lot in front of the old Planet Fitness, and windows were removed at the old JC Penney.  Could demolition be imminent?

3 hours ago, urb-a-saurus said:

Today there was digging in the parking lot in front of the old Planet Fitness, and windows were removed at the old JC Penney.  Could demolition be imminent?

The local Sun Messenger reported that the developer paid the final deposit and picked up the demolition permit in late August.  The city expected demolition to begin as early as the Tuesday after Labor Day.

 

The article also mentioned that the demo will start at the theater (the far eastern edge of the existing footprint, then go southwest to the old Penney’s anchor store before finally reaching the north end of the project (the Sears building).  It’s expected to take awhile.

https://www.cleveland.com/community/2023/09/latest-tentative-date-for-richmond-heights-mall-demolition-is-week-of-sept-18-some-details-announced.html

 

Baby steps.  

Demolition!

The mall comes tumbling down to make way for Belle Oaks Marketplace

https://www.cleveland.com/community/2023/09/demolition-begins-at-richmond-town-square-mall-to-make-way-for-belle-oaks-marketplace.html

^ the replacement looks ok if they build it all out —

 

 

A rendering of the view from the entrance of the first-phase of the Bell Oaks Marketplace development. (Courtesy of Bialosky Cleveland)

 

 

1 hour ago, mrnyc said:

^ the replacement looks ok if they build it all out —

 

 

A rendering of the view from the entrance of the first-phase of the Bell Oaks Marketplace development. (Courtesy of Bialosky Cleveland)

 

 

Ya. It's definitely an insular development built to mimic urban density but also be separated from the main roads. It's better than what's there now by a long shot. 

23 minutes ago, KFM44107 said:

Ya. It's definitely an insular development built to mimic urban density but also be separated from the main roads. It's better than what's there now by a long shot. 

"Insular development" "separated from the main roads"  -- suburban sprawl.  It may be denser, but it's still a car-centric design.  I don't see taking a walk through the parking lots to get to one of the outbuilding establishments as being particularly pleasant for residents.

 

C'mon Richmond Heights -- you invested in those roads, why allow developments that turn their backs to those roads and include an unproductive sea of surface parking?!

 

A week into demolition, the former 20 screen Regal Cinemas at the far east end of the property is already rubble.

Goodbye Burger King's Whopper Jr, small fry, and small shake for $2.97, no tax. Many a pre-movie bite there.

With a Meijer, expect a large parking lot.

3 hours ago, TBideon said:

Goodbye Burger King's Whopper Jr, small fry, and small shake for $2.97, no tax. Many a pre-movie bite there.

 

 

oh man the whopper jr and also the regular crunchy taco bell tacos are my go to fast foods.

 

but i always leave the mayo off jr and pinch the cheese off the tacos because i’m health conscious like that.  😂

 

 

 

Edited September 26, 20231 yr by mrnyc

I wonder if any conversations took place between the developers and Dave's supermarket right across the street. Surely  this can't be good for Dave's to have a new Meijer next door? However, it does seem to work in other locations where there are multiple style grocery stores nearby. I'm curious how the Dave's will do once the Meijer is open.

 

*Edit: fixed for the correct grocery store name.

Edited September 27, 20231 yr by jz15

37 minutes ago, jz15 said:

I wonder if any conversations took place between the developers and Dave's supermarket right across the street. Surely  this can't be good for Dave's to have a new Kroger next door? However, it does seem to work in other locations but where there are multiple style grocery stores nearby. I'm curious how the Dave's will do once the Kroger is open.

First, it's a Meijer, not Kroger. The people at Dave's are definitely concerned about the new store.

 

22 hours ago, urb-a-saurus said:

With a Meijer, expect a large parking lot.

Well, it's not like the area isn't used to large parking lots given it was a shopping mall surrounded by large parking lots 😄

I wonder if any conversations took place between the developers and Dave's supermarket right across the street. Surely  this can't be good for Dave's to have a new Meijer next door? However, it does seem to work in other locations where there are multiple style grocery stores nearby. I'm curious how the Dave's will do once the Meijer is open.
 
*Edit: fixed for the correct grocery store name.

Competition always is good. Dave's was beginning to create a monopoly in the grocery store space and you could tell. First they occupied a lot of former Tops stores, then they bought the Lucky's market in Clifton, then Zagara etc.

If Dave's wants to be successful then they will need to find a way to compete. I appreciate that Meijers has been steadily entering the market.

Sent from my Pixel 7 using Tapatalk

The dead mall demo proceeds apace.  These pics are of the south side of the property, just north of Wilson Mills.  The theater on the far eastern end of the property is gone and they’re about halfway done tearing down the old JCPenney anchor store near the southwest portion of the parcel.

Today, it looked to me like the JC Penney building is gone along with the mall heading toward its old center.

 

It is quite amazing how deteriorated the mall became since it closed in 2021.  

The Belle Oaks site, looking northwest on Wilson Mills Road.  The theater, JC Penney building, and majority of the mall’s interior are all now gone.  Really only the Sears building at the far northwest portion of the parcel remains to be knocked down.

Belle Oaks, again northwest from Wilson Mills.

 

Ground is pretty well cleared away on the south central portion of the site, which is where the JCPenney was and the Meijer’s will be.  Back in the fall, the plan was to start the Meijer’s building in March, and it looks like they’re on track for that.

 

Lot of work elsewhwere on the site, though.  Still lots of piles of earth, debris, and gravel behind the old Macy’s building (which is now a self-storage site and will remain standing).  And demo on the Sears building hasn’t even started. 

Edited February 5, 20241 yr by Down_with_Ctown

Construction moving along on the South side of Just Storage as seen from Wilson Mills rd. 

 

 

Don't have pics because it's just a Meijer's and Firestone rising out of the ground so far on the southwestern portion of the old mall site, but construction is continuing apace on the commercial segment of this project.  Still some minor demos that have to occur (the mini-plaza that hosted La Fiesta for decades and the existing Firestone auto care center) but "Phase I" of the project should see some ribbons being cut sometime in 2025.

 

The residential portion, which will rise on the northern part of the old mall parcel, is not visibly moving forward.  The old Sears building that occupies much of the future residnetial footprint still stands as I type.  However, the developers are building a "leasing office" that will sit at the NE corner of Richonmd Road and Monticello/Wilson Mills.  That's an encouraging sign.

The Belle Oaks leasing office, rising at the northeast corner of Richmond and Wilson Mills/Monticello (for reference, it used to be a BP gas station).

Updates

  New Firestone is open

  Old La Fiesta building is down.

  Old Sears building is being demolished.

  Old Firestone building being emptied

  Meijer exterior up/parking lots paved.

 

Edited December 14, 2024Dec 14 by urb-a-saurus

Both pics are looking north of Wilson Mills.

 

The first is what’s left of the Sears department store, the last structure of the old mall that is being torn down.

 

in the other, you have the new Meijer’s store.  Exterior is all done, including signage.  All that’s left is the dotting of the “i” (and “j”.)  :). Fwiw, there’s already a “now hiring” sign on site.

Today, old Firestone going down,  debris cleanup on aisle Sears, and new Meijer.

Goodman Real Estate now has world class signs up along the perimeter fences offering acre-ish outlots for lease.  I wonder what businesses would occupy those sites?  Meijers often have a mix of fast food and small retail/auto parts stores in front of them, eg. Brimfield.

Edited February 28Feb 28 by urb-a-saurus

1 hour ago, urb-a-saurus said:

Goodman Real Estate now has world class signs up along the perimeter fences offering acre-ish outlots for lease.  I wonder what businesses would occupy those sites?  Meijers often have a mix of fast food and small retail/auto parts stores in front of them, eg. Brimfield.

When does that Meijer's open?

May 2025.

3 minutes ago, urb-a-saurus said:

May 2025.

This is the first one within Cuyahoga County correct? 

No, Seven Hills on Broadview, south of Pleasant Valley is open, and one is planned for the old Sears land at Southland in Middleburg Hts.

Fairfax Market in UC is also technically a Meijer

3 minutes ago, urb-a-saurus said:

No, Seven Hills on Broadview, south of Pleasant Valley is open, and one is planned for the old Sears land at Southland in Middleburg Hts.

Ah okay. Well I'm glad this one is opening, I will be shopping here often given the uhhhhhhh policy changes of others. 

Just now, Geowizical said:

Fairfax Market in UC is also technically a Meijer

Yeah but I was referring to full Meijer's and someone who works there also told me it isn't actually owned by Meijer just licensed. 

10 minutes ago, MyPhoneDead said:

Ah okay. Well I'm glad this one is opening, I will be shopping here often given the uhhhhhhh policy changes of others. 

LOL, see you there.

From today: Lots of dirt where the parking lot for the cinema used to be

 

 

Updates of the dev area south of the Meijer (first) and then the phase 1 belle oaks site grading to the north (last). Also, Wilson mills is being redone in front of Belle Oaks

8 hours ago, Geowizical said:

Updates of the dev area south of the Meijer (first) and then the phase 1 belle oaks site grading to the north (last). Also, Wilson mills is being redone in front of Belle Oaks

That is one hell of a setback at parking lot.

53 minutes ago, MyPhoneDead said:

That is one hell of a setback at parking lot.

 

Haha def not the best use of space - it is zoned for future business tho (see below)

 

Also, they were building some new modern building right on the corner (circled in red below) that doesn't show up on the website's dev map. I wonder what it could be...

47 minutes ago, Geowizical said:

 

Haha def not the best use of space - it is zoned for future business tho (see below)

 

Also, they were building some new modern building right on the corner (circled in red below) that doesn't show up on the website's dev map. I wonder what it could be...

Its the leasing office for the apartments.

Today,

Signage showing apartment building renderings are posted on the perimeter fences.

A mountain range of dirt piles shows behind Meijer

Meijer opened, parking lot packed, significant police presence.

Looking at this development, one can appreciate how huge the Richmond Mall parcel(s) is!

Edited May 8May 8 by urb-a-saurus

I'm sry I keep asking for these things lol but if I could do it, I would! Any chance we can change the title of this thread to "Richmond Heights: Belle Oaks" instead of just "redevelopment"? Thanks mods for all you do ❤️

Here's a new article from cleveland.com with extensive interview coverage and quotes from the developers, including the timeline of the project.

Two things that stood out to me:

1. They've purchased the wooded area across Richmond Rd between Hilary Ln and Geraldine Ave for recreational trails and will not cut down any trees to do so.

2. They will apparently be aiming to open one new building open every other month after until completion after the first two open in 2026, which is quite impressive. Sounds like now with the Meijer open and already completely packed, things will start moving at a quick clip! Bring on the 800 apartments!!!

cleveland

Big day at Belle Oaks: Meijer opens, ground broken on two...

The Belle Oaks development at Richmond and Wilson Mills roads was a busy place Thursday as the Meijer store held its opening, a ceremonial groundbreaking was held for the first two apartment buildi...

Edited May 8May 8 by Geowizical