GREENWOOD, Ind. (WTHR) - It's been more than a year since developers announced plans for a major new shopping district for central Indiana.
But Greenwood Town Center, set to be built on land east of Interstate 65, still hasn't happened and a lot of you are asking us why.
The massive outdoor shopping center was supposed to be under construction by now. On its website, the developer now says the project will be complete sometime in 2017.
The 700,000-square foot project, featuring high-end stores, restaurants, a movie theater and an entertainment venue, is planned for a large plot of land along County Line and Graham Roads.
But more than a year after Gershman Partners announced those plans, the land is still an undisturbed field and some shoppers are worried, especially considering the history of this particular piece of property.
"I think it's just gonna sit empty. That's what it's always been," said Greenwood resident Ben Reed.
Outdoor retailer Cabela's pulled its plans for the property in 2009. GoodSports did the same in 2014, when it couldn't secure funding for a planned sports complex and hotel project.
Now the retail mecca, Greenwood Town Center, has run into major delays.
"It's frustrating not to see it happen yet," said Greenwood Mayor Mark Myers. "It's really surprising to me that it's taken this long for them to get what they need to do it."
Myers says developers are having trouble securing stores, getting big tenants to commit to the project.
"They don't have the big retailers they need," Myers said. "They've got some smaller ones. They've got some restaurants who have signed letters of intent. They've got some prospective ones that they're going back and forth with that look very promising but yet they don't have the big box that they need yet to bring in that big draw to bring in the smaller retailers with it."
There has been progress.
INDOT gave approval for a new road to connect the property to County Line, which the city says will be built once enough tenants are secured to make the project worth the investment.
The developer, Gershman Partners, now lists the completion date as 2017.
Gershman Partners has spent a lot of money and time on the project already and has a proven track record with big retail development, including Hamilton Town Center.
Ryan Gershman also made it clear they're committed to the project in Greenwood.
In a statement to Eyewitness News, Gershman said, "Greenwood Town Center remains a priority for us and its development continues to move forward. A wide range of businesses have shown tremendous interest and discussions are ongoing. We remain committed to the project and look forward to sharing more information when details are finalized. The center is well located for success. We see Greenwood’s growth expanding eastward and in need of this quality, thoughtful development. Prime visibility and access to I-65 will provide a draw for Greenwood as well as surrounding towns/cities including convenient access to the robust heart of downtown Indianapolis."
Mayor Myers and shoppers agree that the location, near I-65, is a good one. But they also say the east side of the interstate seems to be a challenge for development.
"Location, location , location as they say in real estate," said shopper Patti Sobecki. "They (retailers) may think it's just a little inconvenient to be a little bit on this side of the interstate."
"Everything's expanding, just must be on the wrong side of the road," Reed said.
The mayor says retailers have indicated they want more housing, more people, on the east side of I-65 before they'll build.
"What makes retail work? It's people and what we don't have on the east side of the interstate is rooftops - homes and apartments. Some of the larger businesses are just leery of not getting the kind of exposure they need. But I really think they would," Myers said.
The other side of I-65, near County Line and Emerson, continues to enjoy a retail boom, with new retail, along with restaurants and a new hotel under construction.
To the south of the Greenwood Town Center project, there's increased industrial growth. Several new distribution facilities are either under construction or about to be, including Wurth, Schnell, and Opus.
Shoppers say they're ready for the retail hub location at County Line and Graham to finally succeed, too.
"I think it's very desirable and you have a large pull from the Center Grove area, over here through Greenwood and Franklin Township," Sobecki said. "I think it's a great opportunity for some high-end stores because it's needed here: high-end restaurants that aren't chains, that are local."
Mayor Myers, despite the delays, expressed tempered optimism, as well.
"I'm hopeful," he said. "I'm hopeful that it's going to happen, just when...I don't know."
