Published: May 15, 2008 11:58 am         

Wal-Mart planning new store

Development plans wins preliminary approval

An announcement this morning of a proposal to build a Wal-Mart Supercenter behind the Logansport Mall has confirmed rumors that have been circulating for more than a year.

The plans, which were discussed at a plat committee meeting, hinged on the committee’s approval of the proposed subdivision of land owned by a partnership called East-We-Go. Wal-Mart is looking to buy a portion of the lot, which is zoned B3 and located off Mall Road, but was waiting until the subdivision had been approved to finalize purchase plans.

“This is just the start of the process,” said Skip Kuker, president of the Logansport-Cass County Economic Development Foundation.

Kuker said he had been working with the client for more than two years to reach an agreement.

“This is a major project and if there’s a hiccup, it could cause some issues,” he said.

Site plans for the Wal-Mart Supercenter, which were drawn up by Weihe Engineers of Indianapolis, include two access points from Mall Road on either side of several existing businesses. The north entrance would include a traffic light.

The plans do not include direct access to the Logansport Mall.

The store itself would be 160,000 square feet, which would be an upgrade from the current 94,000-square-foot facility. No interior plans have been drawn up and no determinations have been made as to what the store might include, Kuker said.

The storefront would face Mall Road, which would need to be widened to include a turn lane, said Kuker. That expansion could happen within the existing right of way.

Wal-Mart is in the midst of a long-term lease for its current store, which is just south of the Logansport Mall across Market Street. The lease ends on Jan. 31, 2015, but no determinations have been made about what could happen to that facility if this new store is built. Wal-Mart does have the option to sell off its lease, said Kuker.

Site plans also call for two stormwater retention ponds on the west side of the property as well as side roads and two outlots behind the existing businesses. There are no plans currently for the businesses that will occupy those outlots.

Kuker said the site plans still must be formally approved before any construction can take place.

“There’s nothing that says this is going to be done either,” he said. “If it does go through, it would be another retail shopping experience for not only the residents of Cass County, but hopefully it could become a regional shopping experience.”

Carla Knapp can be contacted at (574) 732-5150 or via e-mail at carla.knapp@pharostribune.com