Windsor, CO. New Wal-Mart in the Works

Site improvements being made for future Wal-Mart [Windsor Beacon (Colo.)]

There is a lot of large earth-moving activity taking place these days along Main Street between 15th and 17th streets.

While it’s a clear signal that commercial development is in the works, it will still be some time before we see completed buildings, developers say.

Windsor Land Company, which is developing a 56-acre parcel on the north side of Main Street in this area, is making on-site and off-site improvements (streets, sewer, storm drains and grading) to its seven lots in preparation for Wal-Mart and several other interested retailers.

Wal-Mart purchased 20 acres lots 1 and 4 last December. The retail giant is expected to break ground on its proposed 190,000-square-foot super center some time next year. However, town planning officials aren’t sure when.

Windsor Senior Planner Scott Ballstadt said Wednesday that Wal-Mart officials have not submitted a building permit application so their schedule is unknown.

Wal-Mart officials could not be reached for comment.

Despite the uncertainty surrounding Wal-Mart, site improvement work will continue this spring and summer.

“We’re trying to get ready for (Wal-Mart) and others,” said Jeff Kaplinski, the director of operations for Windsor Land Company, on Thursday.

“We’re doing what needs to be done. We’ve got months of work to do. We probably won’t be done until October.”

When asked about Wal-Mart, Kaplinski said it was his understanding that Wal-Mart would break ground in early 2009.

Kaplinski did say that Windsor Land Company is in negotiations with either Home Depot or Lowe’s to purchase Lot 2. He said due to the sensitive nature of the negotiations he couldn’t identify which company his firm is dealing with.

“We should have an announcement some time in June,” Kaplinski said.

Kaplinski said the remaining lots 3, 5, 6 and 7 are drawing lots of interest, too, but declined to say who those firms were.

On the south side of Main Street, site improvement work has been just as busy.

Chase Bank is being built on Lot 1 of the Hoehne subdivision second filing, a 2.5-acre, two-lot project.

David Moroney, of Armstrong Development Properties Inc. which is developing the site, said Thursday there is no user yet for Lot 2 but “there is a lot of interest in it.”

The two lots run north to south. Lot 2 is located immediately west of the Safeway gas station. Lot 1, where Chase Bank will be built, is located just west of Lot 2 along what will be an extension of 16th Street.

The rest of the construction on the south side of Main Street west of 16th Street is part of the River Valley Crossing subdivision. There is no additional information on this commercial project.

The developer, Windsor 20 LLC, could not be reached for comment.