Fallsnewspress.com - State Road demolition project attracts 16 bids, official says

State Road Shopping Center

by Steve Wiandt

Reporter

Cuyahoga Falls -- The city received 16 bids to demolish and clear the former State Road Shopping Center, and should announce June 29 who will be awarded the project.

"The ultimate goal is the redevelopment of the former State Road Shopping Center by the first quarter, or at least the spring, of 2010," Susan Truby, the city's community development director, has said.

Truby said the city received and opened 16 bids on June 24. The Board of Control is scheduled to award the contract June 29 to demolish buildings at the State Road Shopping Center to prepare the site for redevelopment to the lowest and best bidder.

If all goes according to plan, demolition will begin Aug. 21, Truby said, and the property will be completely cleared with grass planted by Oct. 21.

The city was awarded in May a $2 million grant through the Clean Ohio Revitalization Fund for the demolition and soil remediation of the former shopping center. Truby said demolition will cost an estimated $1.48 million, and she believes the remainder of the grant will cover soil remediation on the property, which will be bid out separately.

The city is collaborating with Cleveland developer Bob Stark, president and CEO of Stark Enterprises, to redevelop the city-owned property. When Stark was introduced on May 14 as the city's choice to develop the property, he said his proposed development will mix retail with residential, address Portage Trail rather than State Road, and bear the name Portage Crossing.

The first phase of Portage Crossing will be anchored by a grocery story, Stark said. There are several grocery stores that are being considered as the anchor, Truby told the Falls News-Press. Truby did not name any stores that are being considered, but during the May press conference, Stark said he had been in contact with Acme.

"Stark Enterprises will have the final say on all retailers that are located at his property," said Truby, "however, the city has, and will, have input as to those selections."

No decisions have been made on the sale of the State Road property to Stark, Truby said. The city still owns the site. "Before those decisions can be made, the city must enter into a development agreement with Stark Enterprises, and that agreement must be approved by City Council," she said. "We are hopeful to get that process going by mid-July."

E-mail: swiandt@recordpub.com

Phone: 330-688-0088 ext. 3141