DEVELOPER LEVELING MOUNTAINS FOR WAL-MART IN KODAK, TN

Dumplin Creek commercial project ‘ahead of schedule’ [Mountain Press (Tenn.)]

The earth moving machines at the Dumplin Creek business site have been silent for a few days, but developer John Turley said that shouldn’t be seen as a sign of troubles for his project. In fact, he said, it’s quite the opposite.

“We’re way ahead of schedule,” Turley said.

After about 10 months of work, officials are eight months ahead of the schedule they set for themselves in developing the site on Interstate 40 for a shopping and business complex, he said. The project is far enough ahead of schedule that they are taking a break while they review what comes next and wait to get some permits.

“You know, once in a while you’ve got to stop and take a breather and see what you’ve done and what you’ve got left to do,” Turley said by phone on Tuesday.

What they’ve done is complete the first phase of land preparation, moving about 3.5 million cubic yards of earth from the mountaintop. They have still more to move, he said, and much of it will be used as fill to bring lower lying areas of the property up to the proper elevation.

Before they can do that, they will need to get several permits they are still awaiting from the state.

“There’s more to do than just moving the dirt,” he said. “There’s a huge amount of approval process.”

Despite the economic slump, he said interest in the project remains strong. They hope to be ready to close on property for Wal-Mart in November, he said, and are negotiating to have a Sam’s Wholesale Club located there as well.

“Our level of tenant interest, considering the economy, is great,” he said. “It’s substantial.”

Posted by Joel Nezianya on Thursday, July 10, 2008

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