City Manager Eric Mack said a conceptual plan is under development with consultants from Woodard Development. This will be shared with the public in the future. He and other city representatives asked the community for patience as they work to address a plan. Change, they said, won’t happen overnight.
“Our vision for the Plaza includes a mix of high-quality businesses, such as fast-casual restaurants, retail establishments and high-end residential development. The city also understands that a grocery store is a top priority for residents, and we are working diligently to proactively control and encourage this type of strategic development,” Mack said.
The property on the south side of Main Street (Ohio 571) could be seen as a “front door” to Tipp City, as it’s one of the first things visitors see when they get off I-75 and turn east.
The plaza was previously anchored by a Foodtown grocery store that closed in 2019, and it has seen other vacancies as well, while multiple storefronts remain open.
There will be many challenges, but redevelopment/reuse is possible, said Kathy Sherman, president of the Piqua Area Chamber of Commerce just a few miles away off Interstate 75 at U.S. 36.
“Just two years ago, the future of the Miami Valley Centre Mall property seemed uncertain. The building was deteriorating, and no investments were being made to improve it, let alone keep it in good repair. That all changed when a visionary partnership purchased the property and immediately began making improvements,” Sherman said.
This transformation required patience, hard work and the right team—people who were willing to invest and believe in what was possible by thinking outside the box, she said.
“One of their first key decisions was hiring Helga Leap as the Operations & Sales Manager. Helga not only shared their vision but also brought a deep passion for both the property and the community,” Sherman said. “Together, they are transforming the mall into a thriving mixed-use hub that serves the community with retail, entertainment, warehousing and more. And the possibilities keep growing.”
Woodard Development provides extensive experience and insight into redevelopment projects of such as the Tipp Plaza, said Matt Spring, Tipp City economic/planning director.
“In general, we will be following a well-trodden and successful path that numerous area municipalities have taken, in first securing control of important properties and then systematically and strategically pursuing development,” Spring said.
“Progress won’t be instantaneous, but by the mechanisms of control the city will be in a good position to guide future growth here; we’ll get to outcomes in time as markets and motivations align,” he said.
Kathryn Huffman, Tipp City Council president, said a goal is to look at what is needed in the community, and work to make that happen.
“I have always thought we could have a grocery option. It may be a smaller model of the chains that are in neighboring communities or something new,” she said.
“I think with our growth in the last several years and when the Plaza area is improved, we will see a lot of interest in developing here and we can be selective about businesses that complement our community,” Huffman said.
More opportunities will be offered for public input once concept plans are released.
Huffman, also chair of the city’s Community Improvement Corp., said some improvements can be done at the property once in city hands while planning continues. That work could include maintenance and landscaping improvements, she said.
Mack said about one-half of the property purchase cost is expected to be recovered through grants from the federal and state governments and issuing Tax Increment Financing debt. The TIF debt is later paid through increased property taxes generated by the redevelopment.
The city also has discussed working with the Miami County Land Bank/Community Improvement Corporation on environmental mitigation, demolition and holding real estate over multiple years.
A memorandum of understanding between the city and the county is in the works, said Kelly Fackel, county development director.
Contact this contributing writer at nancykburr@aol.com
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