Published: November 07, 2008 11:57 am      

Wal-Mart buys land for store

Nation’s largest retailer closes deals on 30 acres for proposed supercenter

Wal-Mart has bought the land it needs for a proposed 160,000-square-foot supercenter.

According to records obtained in the Cass County recorder’s office, Wal-Mart has purchased about 30 acres north of the Logansport Mall between Mall and Yorktown roads. The paperwork was filed on Monday. The land deals involved Eastwego, Security Federal Savings Bank, River of Life Christian Church, National City Bank and Beacon Credit Union.

Wal-Mart spokesperson Jason Wetzel said the land and easement rights required for the project had been secured.

“The project is progressing as anticipated,” he said.

A contract with River of Life Christian Church ensures access to the Wal-Mart property from Mall Road. Negotiations between the church and Wal-Mart run into complications this year because of the church’s previous agreement with JDF Development, which had an option on the strip of land Wal-Mart needed for its access.

Contacts for temporary construction easements have also been filed with the surrounding businesses.

The next step in the project is to seek bids for construction. Wetzel said no groundbreaking or completion dates had been determined, but he said if all went as planned, the store should be open for business late next year.

On Monday, the city council passed an ordinance that will allocate $450,000 in CEDIT money to the Wal-Mart project to extend Lexington Drive from Yorktown Road out to Mall Road, where a traffic light is planned. The road would be the main access to the Riverside Business Center, which is the proposed name for the plaza.

This year, the redevelopment commission agreed to support the repayment of the $450,000 with tax revenues generated by development of the proposed supercenter. Repaying the loan would take an estimated four years.

City officials say the deal gives them a chance to buy a completed road valued at $2.5 million for $450,000.

Plans also call for Mall Road to be widened to accommodate turn lanes and for utilities to be extended to two outlots in preparation for future development in the Riverside Business Center.

A second access from Mall Road would be located just behind the Logansport Mall, although no direct access to the mall is planned.

Kevin Lilly can be reached at (574) 732-5117, or via e-mail at kevin.lilly@pharostribune.com