The developer’s inclusion of the sporting goods store on the promotional materials for their $100 million development sparked confusion among council members. The sporting goods store already has an existing store about one mile away from the proposed complex at Ohio 201 and Interstate 70.
Council and city staff were unaware of the developer's progress on the site until the Dayton Daily News broke the story.
George said the developers need more liquor licenses through a designation called a “community entertainment district” for the project to be successful.
“This project will probably break ground in 2018, if not sooner, and will hopefully be in business for summer 2018,” George said. “Retailers now are making their decisions for 2018, which is why it’s important now to have the CED” taken care of now.
Right now, only one D5 liquor license — essentially, a license allowing a bar to operate until 2:30 a.m. — remains available in Huber Heights, as 19 of 20 are already issued. A community entertainment district around The Heights would afford up to an additional 15 liquor licenses in that area.
George made clear the company’s plans are still flexible.
“We’ve had a lot of discussion internally, and, you know, it’s hard to project how a project is going to turn out,” George said. “We’re still in the middle phases of how this project will turn out.”
George said the development will have “one or two” hotels. There are also plans for a shared “water feature” surrounded by restaurants with outdoor eating.
We’ll have more on this story as it develops.
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