10 miles away from The Meadows, the buzz is about the changes in redevelopment plans for Overton Square.  The upscale grocery store originally planned for the area is out, making room for an arts-and-entertainment theme going in at the southwest corner of Madison and Cooper.  Says developer Robert Loeb, “We had significant interest from a couple of groceries initially, but demands for the site were too disruptive for the theater arts district we hope to develop.”

In order to put up the grocery store, they would have had to demolish some existing buildings and create an exclusive parking area.  The more Loeb’s company worked on it, the more they realized that they could probably put the space to better use and that there is likely a better site in Midtown for a grocery.

The biggest anchors in the area are the three theaters at Playhouse on the Square and movie theater Studio on the Square.  When asked what the new plan’s magnet for revitalizing Overton Square’s south side will be, Loeb stated that they are looking at smaller retailers, boutique retailers and restaurants.  Now, they will not have to demolish any buildings but will construct some new ones.

More details on the plan will be revealed at a public meeting on October 12^th at Playhouse on the Square.  Some will be disappointed about the grocery store plan being nixed, but having the extra retail space will help the economy bounce back.  Construction is intended to start in the first quarter of 2012, with an opening sometime in the first quarter of 2013.

Are you excited about the retail stores or were you more interested in having a grocery store?

Photo credit: cherrycoke