More big boxes in the area...from the 1/26/05 Lebanon Western Star:

 

 

Huge retail development in the works for South Lebanon

Meijer interested in the area

By Christopher Magan

The Western Star

 

Cincinnati real estate company Bear Creek Capital is trying to attract a big-box retailer to its River’s Crossing in South Lebanon.

 

The company hopes to bring Meijer to one of the properties it owns on both sides of Ohio 48 south of the Interstate 71 interchange in South Lebanon.

 

...

 

http://www.western-star.com/hp/content/news/stories/2005/01/26/ws0127meijerweb.html

 

OH 48 & I-71.  Isnt that near where that Fujitech plant is at, with their big elevator testing tower?

 

Looks like thats the next frontier for sprawl...south Lebanon.

 

 

 

 

It would be south of the interchange, whereas Fujitec is north.  But yes, it's the same exit.

Big plans on radar in Warren

Project envisions $460M of office, residential, retail

Cincinnati Business Courier - April 28, 2006by Lisa Biank FasigStaff Reporter

 

In South Lebanon, where the road dips into an uncultivated stretch punctuated by a gravel quarry and an old service station, developers envision a gleaming, 550-acre city where thousands of people can live, work and purchase designer suits.

 

A $460 million project, called Rivers Crossing, would combine 2.25 million square feet of retail with 1.7 million square feet of office space and more than 2,100 luxury residences. Potential retailers include Dillard's, J.C. Penney, Circuit City and Meijer.

 

...

 

http://cincinnati.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/stories/2006/05/01/story1.html

1.7m square feet of office space?  Haven't the developers noticed that the suburban office market is already pretty soft? 

"They've got some pretty pictures. It doesn't look like Ohio; it kind of looks like Florida."

 

It's sad Americans actually believe that.

To kind of look like Florida means palm trees and a lot of EIFS as faux stucco and tile roofs...

 

As it is,  this looks more like an "Easton", though more mall-like.  I like what they are doing with that quarry lake, though, as a site for restuarants with watefside decks and patios.

 

But that big box blah-ness across the street isnt too inspiring.

 

Bear Creek has some really neat graphics at their site showing all the new subdivisions going in in Mason, Mainville, and Lebanon.  I had no idea that area was booming the way it was (the area south of the river & towards Morrow).

 

 

I missed the "River" part in the site plan.  I guess they meant to call it "Retention Pond Crossing."  But that doesn't sound too well.

They probably mean they are at the Miami River crossing, for their suburban market down in Maineville....

 

 

Dillard's key in retail plan

South Lebanon project includes Meijer, Kohl's as top tenants

Cincinnati Business Courier - May 26, 2006by Lisa Biank FasigStaff Reporter

 

The developer of a $460 million mixed-use project planned for South Lebanon is listing Dillard's, Meijer and Kohl's as key tenants.

 

The retailers represent the first commitment for the vast project, called Rivers Crossing. When it opens, beginning in 2008, it will combine 2.25 million square feet of retail with 1.7 million square feet of office space and more than 2,100 luxury residences.

 

Other potential retailers include J.C. Penney, Circuit City and Target.

 

...

 

http://cincinnati.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/stories/2006/05/29/story4.html

From the 6/16/06 Enquirer:

 

 

PHOTO: Nicole Harris-Chimento and Steve Kelly of Bear Creek Capital go over the plans for the Rivers Crossing shopping, housing and office development.  The Enquirer/Tony Jones

 

Warren developer thinking big

$475M Rivers Crossing will feature retail and residential

BY MIKE BOYER | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER

 

SOUTH LEBANON - An open-air mall featuring Dillard's, two other unidentified anchors and an adjacent area with a Kohl's and Meijer are the focal points of the $475 million Rivers Crossing development planned for east of Interstate 71 and straddling both sides of Ohio 48.

 

The project, in development for four years, has expanded beyond a shopping complex into a mixed-used mecca spread over 500 acres that will include more than 230,000 square feet of office space and a planned 327-unit townhouse and condominium development.

 

...

 

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060616/NEWS01/606160385/-1/rss

 

Here is the site plan and a couple of renderings of this piece of crap.  I sure hope there's enough parking.

 

 

 

 

---

Here are a couple of articles regarding the local impact that appeared in the 6/22/06 Middletown Journal:

 

 

Four major areas, primarily positive impact

By Richard Wilson and Daniel Wells

Staff Writers

Thursday, June 22, 2006

 

The Rivers Crossing development will have a far-reaching impact on several areas of everyday life.

 

 

The Economy

 

The retail portion of Rivers Crossing alone would bring 2,200 new jobs into South Lebanon, Mayor Jim Smith said.

 

...

 

http://www.middletownjournal.com/hp/content/shared/oh/news/stories/2006/06/pj0622crossingimpact.html

---

Locals: $475M development a mixed blessing

Locals say positives may outweigh any negatives.

By Linda Scott

Contributing Writer

Thursday, June 22, 2006

 

In the last six years, the village of South Lebanon has gone from a modest village to the showplace for two Homearama events featuring multi-million dollar homes. In addition to other upscale residential developments, the village is now slated to become the "mixed-use Mecca" of the region with the future Rivers Crossing.

 

For South Lebanon's longtime residents and business owners, it is a mixed blessing.

 

...

 

http://www.middletownjournal.com/hp/content/shared/oh/news/stories/2006/06/pj0622crossingoldsouthleb.html

 

I enjoy the third image down and how the car is gleaming!  :lol:  About the parking they could probably pave over another 200 acres of farmland to ensure adequate amount of Holiday shopping parking.  It is also funny to see what the developer considers River's Crossing's market....he includes northern parts of Hamilton County (already have 3-4 large malls and other shopping destinations) as well as West Chester.  I'm real sure that those WC people will leave their community with a lot of shopping to come to a development that includes a Dick's, Meijer, Movie Theatre, Kohls and the likes.  If that were the case then the westside of Cincinnati would be a thriving retail mecca.

 

Oh and one other thing is that the developer claims that this is a mixed-use development.....please dont believe his lies.  THIS IS A BIG-BOX PIECE OF CRAP!!!!!!!!!! :whip: :whip: :whip: :whip: :whip: :whip: :whip: :whip: :whip:

Question on the project?

One of the articles said that the development will have 327 residential units and 230,000 square feet of office. I don't see that on the site plan. Are they still planning these of mixes of use or did they take them out? If they still are planning them will they be on the second or third floors of the lifestyle center piece? While I am not happy about more sprawl, if they truly integrate the other mix use pieces it will at least be a step in the right direction for development in the area.

^ It doesn't show it on the site plan, but residential development is supposed to be south of that site plan, on the SW corner of the 3M/OH-48 intersection.  In other words, closer to the TPC.

 

The developer's site has a lot more maps and stuff:

http://bearcreekcapital.com/RiversCross.htm

Conyer doesn't anticipate the new offices having a harmful effect on other property owners' ability to lease space. Rivers Crossings offices would not compete with office buildings on Mason-Montgomery Road in Deerfield Twp., where vacancy rates are higher than elsewhere in the county, Coyner said.

 

OK, what office market are they competing with?  You are just adding supply to the entire northeast quadrant, that really does not have much of an office market to begin with.

 

"It will put Union Twp. and South Lebanon on the map," Butler said.

 

If a mall full of chain stores you can find anywhere is what you want to be known for, I feel sorry for you.

Oh yeah, and come get me when two yahoos in a sailboat tie up to do some shopping!

And here I always thought mixed-use meant that the different uses were in the same building.  I agree with the above comments, this is junk.  I just don't see why anyone would consider this a good thing, except the developer.

^Hell or even in the same development....their mixed-use is broken up into different sections!  'Housing way over there, retail over here, and some office put on that side'  This is not mixed use....if there were housing around the lake (near the retail) or some office lofted above the retail strip then I would go with the developers word on it being mixed-use....however IT IS NOT! :x

The Cincinnati Business Courier only gives two paragraphs now, but this is all you need:

 

 

Upscale retailer Von Maur has eye on Tri-State

Cincinnati Business Courier - July 21, 2006

by Lisa Biank Fasig

Staff Reporter

 

Von Maur, a family-run chain of department stores whose polished showrooms have earned it comparisons to Nordstrom, is scouting for locations in Cincinnati to become the first new department store chain to build in this market in almost 20 years.

 

A spokeswoman at the Iowa-based chain said Von Maur is "definitely interested" in Cincinnati, particularly in Rivers Crossing, a massive, $475 million mixed-use project in South Lebanon. That project, which will include several office buildings and more than 2,000 upscale residences, will feature enough outdoor retail to fill two major malls -- 2.3 million square feet worth.

 

http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/stories/2006/07/24/story3.html?from_rss=1

 

Rivers Crossing groundbreaking in works

Components being finalized for mega-development in South Lebanon

Pulse-Journal

Linda Scott

September 7, 2006

 

South Lebanon Mayor James Smith isn't surprised that some people who own property in Union Twp. near what promises to be Warren County's largest retail development can't wait for it be built. He and other village leaders also are eagerly looking forward to groundbreaking in a few weeks for Montgomery-based Bear Creek Capital's $475 million mixed-use development.

 

South Lebanon, located in the southern portion of Union Twp., landed the project, and through a series of annexations of Union Twp. land, development of the proposed 1.3 million-square-foot retail space mega mall is planned to straddle both sides of Ohio 48 south of Interstate 71.

 

...

 

http://www.pulsejournal.com/news/content/oh/story/news/local/2006/09/07/pj090706riverscrossing.html

From the 12/28/06 Pulse-Journal:

 

 

All signs are a go for Rivers Crossing

Kohl's submits plans; boulevard to be named for Corwin Nixon

Wednesday, December 27, 2006

By Linda Scott

Contributed Writer

 

It will be written in stone.

 

Rivers Crossing — straddling both sides of Ohio 48 south of Interstate 71 in South Lebanon — will be identified by a 40-foot illuminated pylon of stone approved recently by the village.

 

...

 

http://www.pulsejournal.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2006/12/27/pjl122806riverscrossing.html

 

From the 1/18/07 Pulse-Journal:

 

 

South Lebanon, Union Twp.

Officials figuring out fire future

Rivers Crossing brings opportunities — and headaches.

By Danyrae Lockwood

Staff Writer

Thursday, January 18, 2007

 

Phase I construction on the mega-retail shopping center Rivers Crossing will soon break ground, bringing nearly 2,000 jobs and commerce to the South Lebanon area.

 

That future Bear Creek Capital development has put a strain on South Lebanon and Union Twp. officials, who have different ideas on fire and EMS coverage to Rivers Crossing.

 

...

 

http://www.western-star.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2007/01/18/pjl011807bearcreekcrossing.html

 

From the 3/8/07 Middletown Journal:

 

 

Another Kohl's coming to area?

By Dave Greber

Staff Writer

Thursday, March 08, 2007

 

SOUTH LEBANON — Construction is expected to begin next week on the first phase of a proposed 300-acre, multi-million-square-foot mixed use development in South Lebanon.

 

Cincinnati-based developer Bear Creek Capital — together with CBL & Associates Properties, owners of Middletown's Towne Mall — will start pouring the foundation for Kohl's department store off State Route 48.

 

...

 

http://www.middletownjournal.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2007/03/08/mj030807crossing.html

 

From the 7/6/07 Enquirer:

 

 

Target coming to S. Lebanon

THE ENQUIRER

 

SOUTH LEBANON – A 126,000 square-foot Target store is the latest retailer to commit to the new Rivers Crossing power center development north of Ohio 48 here.

 

Mayor James Smith said today the retailer will present final plans for the new store, expected to open late next year, at Tuesday’s village planning commission meeting. The new store will join the under construction Kohl’s store and Lowe’s home improvement store as anchors for the mixed use development by Bear Creek Capital LLC and partner CBL & Associates.

 

...

 

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070706/BIZ01/307060016/1076/rss01

 

You know you've got a quality mixed-use project when the anchor tenants are all big-box stores.  I mean how else would you like to create a quality mixed-use/walkable environment??

'Plans also calls for an open-air lifestyle center with upscale department stores, condominiums, office space on both sides of Ohio 48."

 

Kohls, Target, Best Buy, Pets Mart, Staples... Yep, you've got your upscale department stores and high-paying office workers amoung that group. (sarcasm)

'Plans also calls for an open-air lifestyle center with upscale department stores, condominiums, office space on both sides of Ohio 48."

 

Kohls, Target, Best Buy, Pets Mart, Staples... Yep, you've got your upscale department stores and high-paying office workers amoung that group. (sarcasm)

 

I need to check the plans again, but I believe most of the big box stores are in a strip center on the southside of the highway while the mixed use project is located on the northside of the highway. If this is true, then the mixed use part is some 'future' development and the large big box projects is what is currently under construction. Developers are really good at this. They dangle a decent looking mixed use project infront of the community in hopes that they overlook the crappy strip power center across the road. Then they build the power center and return to the community in the future with a story about how they are having trouble getting the mixed use project off the ground and request to modify the plans for the mixed use center into some really crappy sprawl development. I hope I wrong. We shall see.

Forget my comment above. If the current plan that is on their website is what they are calling 'mixed use' then its a total piece of crap. Everthing is seperated, not integrated and mostly just big box retail sites along with a suburban apartment complex with your typical sububan office park with a sea of parking. I keep hoping a developer will finally build a real mixed use lifestyle center in the Cincy area instead of all the trashy developments that they call a modern lifestyle, mixed use development.

"Then they build the power center and return to the community in the future with a story about how they are having trouble getting the mixed use project off the ground and request to modify the plans for the mixed use center into some really crappy sprawl development. I hope I wrong. We shall see."

 

History provides strong arguements that you will not be wrong. 

 

That's just the typical modis-operindi for development, here and elsewhere.  The 'ol Bait & Switch strategy.  "Approve my (impracticle) grand plan and let me change it at will".

 

 

"I keep hoping a developer will finally build a real mixed use lifestyle center in the Cincy area instead of all the trashy developments that they call a modern lifestyle, mixed use development."

 

Hope springs eternal.  Just keep wishing.  Some year a developer with a new way of thinking may arrive from out of state.  Of course, he/she will be treated like a space alien by local governments and probably won't be able to get anything approved.

Von Maur, a family-run chain of department stores whose polished showrooms have earned it comparisons to Nordstrom, is scouting for locations in Cincinnati to become the first new department store chain to build in this market in almost 20 years.

 

They are already slated to come to the Greene, over in Beavercreek, so they are certainly moving into this area.  I don't know if they are in Columbus yet.

 

Funny thing about Bear Creek, if all goes according to plan, they will be building a true mixed use center right by donwtown Dayton, near that baseball stadium, yet at the very same time are planning this massive sprawl development in suburban Dayton at the Wilmington/I=675 intersection. 

 

 

 

Polaris in Columbus has a Von Maur.

Rivers Crossing comes online with big boxes

Center's first phase features retail power center

BY LISA BIANK FASIG | CINCINNATI BUSINESS COURIER

August 24, 2007

 

IMAGE: The massive Rivers Crossing office, retail, residential and entertainment complex in South Lebanon will combine 4 million square feet and 2,100 luxury residences.

Courtesy of Bear Creek Capital/CBL & Associates

 

SOUTH LEBANON - The first phase of the single largest development project in South Lebanon will be symbolized in the fall with the opening of its first store, and it will include sweaters, towels and little black buggies.

 

Kohl's is scheduled to open this October at Rivers Crossing, a $475 million project that will combine 2.3 million square feet of retail with 1.7 million square feet of office space and more than 2,100 luxury residences. Such an ambitious endeavor takes years, however, and the first phase - a power center, or one housing only big-box stores, being developed by Bear Creek Capital in Blue Ash - is the first to materialize.

 

...

"Getting the scale of a larger building down to human size is somewhat difficult," he said.

 

You ain't kiddin.

 

 

The same exact story is no more than one post away.  Except I posted it 3 days ago.  :-D

I don't see visuals!

I don't see visuals!

 

I was instructed not to do what you did, due to copyright concerns.  I don't remember who, but one of the admins sent me a message telling me to no longer post pictures that way.  Either save them and link them from my own source (ie Photobucket) or just link them through the article.

 

As you can see...the link to the image does exist.

IMAGE: The massive Rivers Crossing office, retail, residential and entertainment complex in South Lebanon will combine 4 million square feet and 2,100 luxury residences.

Courtesy of Bear Creek Capital/CBL & Associates

Well thank you.  You've been added to the ADMIN BAR TOPICS!

I don’t even know what that means…but it doesn’t sound good.  Just doing as I was instructed.

 

*waves white flag*

Rivers Crossing unveiled today

BY MIKE BOYER | CINCINNATI ENQUIRER

September 4, 2007

 

SOUTH LEBANON — Ohio’s First Lady Frances Strickland will be among the dignitaries on hand today at 4 p.m. for groundbreaking of the first phase of the $500 million Rivers Crossing retail-commercial development along Ohio 48 at Interstate 71.

 

The first-phase is a $55 million power center that will include a Kohl’s department store, Lowe’s home improvement store and a Target store along the north side of Ohio 48. The 90,000 square-foot Kohl’s store is slated to open in early October and the concrete pads for the other two anchors stores have been poured.

 

...

Nothing like seeing Ohio's first lady at a groundbreaking for a big box and sprawl development were Wal-Mart, Kohl's and Target will be building. Has our Country and its political system truly become this sad.

Nothing like seeing Ohio's first lady at a groundbreaking for a big box and sprawl development were Wal-Mart, Kohl's and Target will be building. Has our Country and its political system truly become this sad.

 

Yes.

Didn't see this one coming...[/sarcasm]

 

For $150M mall, failure to launch

Retailers halt South Lebanon center

BY LISA BIANK-FASIG | CINCINNATI BUSINESS COURIER

January 25, 2008

 

SOUTH LEBANON - The $150 million open-air component of a massive, mixed-use project in South Lebanon has apparently fallen through, abandoned by its developer and several retailers, sources said.

 

The development, part of the proposed $475 million Rivers Crossing project, was envisioned to be an open-air mall, or lifestyle center, covering 1.5 million square feet and anchored by department stores. Potential tenants included Dillard's, Macy's and Von Maur, a family-run chain of upscale stores based in Davenport, Iowa.

 

...

Unfortuantely the strip big box part is underconstruction while the potential mixed use part appears to be on the ropes. At least its less sprawl!

Now, three sources familiar with the project said CBL has walked away after failing to secure retailers. Two say that Bear Creek is trying to market those same tenants to a different spot off Interstate 75, at the Liberty interchange in Butler County.

 

That's interesting.

 

BTW Bear Creek is still in negotiation w. Dayton over that Ballpark Village site downtown.

 

 

I just went by there not too long ago. If you like asphalt this is absolutely the place for you! It's a pity really that green space was destroyed for such ugly monstrosity. Hopefully Lebanon's nice little downtown won't be affected too much by this...

An excerpt from a larger article about Bear Creek's market strategy...

 

Across from Rivers Crossing in South Lebanon, Bear Creek and CBL Properties had originally planned a $350 million lifestyle center with retailers such as Dillard’s, Macy’s and Von Maur, high-density residences and office space. When those retailers expressed more interest in the Interstate 75 corridor, CBL dropped out of the project and Bear Creek put land under contract in Liberty Township, east of the highway. If the township approves a zoning change from office and light industrial to retail, Bear Creek plans to build a $250 million lifestyle center and $100 million in office buildings. Cleveland real estate developer Forest City, a public company with expertise in “town center”-like projects, confirmed it’s had discussions about a joint venture with the firm. But Bear Creek Principal Daniels said he’ll only move forward if the township approves planned unit development zoning for the site, a designation that is not prescribed in its comprehensive plan.

 

...

 

http://cincinnati.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/stories/2008/11/10/story9.html

Lowe’s schedules South Lebanon opening

Business Courier of Cincinnati

http://cincinnati.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/stories/2008/12/22/daily36.html

 

Lowe’s, the home improvement chain, will open its South Lebanon store Dec. 26.

 

The store will open to the public at 7 a.m. off of State Route 48 on Corwin Nixon Boulevard. The retailer is among those in the first phase of an ambitious project called Rivers Crossing, which was also to include a higher-end, open-air component. But that part of the project stalled early in the year after it failed to commit tenants.

 

...