Old Loehmann's Plaza looks confirmed for traffic light -- will the H-Teet follow?

As commenter Jeremy noted on an older story here on the blog, it looks like next Tuesday's NCDOT meeting on the widening of Hillandale Rd. between I-85 and Carver will cement everyone's least-favorite government agency's intent to add a traffic light at Bertland Ave., providing much-improved access to the aging Loehmann's Plaza shopping center:

When last we approached this story, the Herald-Sun had broken the news that shopping center owner Glenwood Development Co. felt they could hook Harris Teeter as a tenant as part of a remodeled shopping center, if NCDOT were to add a traffic light as opposed to adding an unbroken concrete median making access to or from the center from northbound Hillandale difficult.

(Such a move would have pretty deeply undercut the value of a shopping center that has great demographics and location going for it, but which has been in dire need of an aesthetic refresh.)

We touched base with Kris Niebergall of Glenwood Development, who was understandably tight-lipped about any grocery store tenant signings, noting it was inappropiate to talk about any lease deals until signed.

Niebergall also had nothing of substance to add either way to our previous report that the center would be reconstructed with a anchor tenant grocer at the western rear of the property and outparcels in front along Hillandale. However, he did note that renovations would be subject to "public hearings," implying the company is looking at transformation to the center significant enough to bring the site through Durham's development process.

As of this writing, no City/County Planning filings relevant to the site have been made in May or June 2008; we'll keep watching for signs that this renovation is moving forward.

Comments

[georg]

I don't see why H-T would want to open up at Loehmann's. It seems way too close to the store they're building at Willowdale (2.2 miles away, according to Google Maps)

[Carol]

Georg,

I live in Northgate Park and still miss the HT at Northgate. I would prefer to go to Loehmann's Plaza as opposed to way up Guess Rd.

[Dan C]

I believe there will soon be two HTs about a mile and half from each other along NC54 in south Durham.

[fullsteam]

I've heard the company is pursuing a "store within a store" strategy, opening an "HT Mart" inside each new Harris Teeter.

[Jeremy]

Gift horse, mouth: don't look there. If they want to build 3 stores within a mile of each other, that's fine by me. When they closed the Northgate store my fuel bill went up.

[KeepDurhamDifferent!]

Amen. I used to be able to walk to the market in true european fashion (Northgate HT). While the Northpointe Kroger is not bad, getting there is not especially easy on my bike relative to the sylvan stroll down Club and Hillandale.

[Derek]

Re: south Durham HTs. I'm almost certain I've read that the old Homestead Market location is closing when the new one at 751 & 54 opens.