Heritage Point Towne Center (Knoxville, Johnson City: appointed, buying, school)

[BP72]

New Kingsport retail development to create regional jobs


New Kingsport retail development to create regional jobs | TriCities.com

This is supposed to be built at the I-81 and I-26 area.

My question is why more Retail? This area needs more solid jobs that pay more than minimum wage. How may more Retailers have to close up shop before they see that.

Then there is the location. Would that really be a good location? Are they hoping for people to really flock there from Bristol, JC and Kingsport due to the location?

Personally, I think it will become more of a Dead Duck than a Golden Goose for Kingsport.

[MetropolitanTN]

It seems like a good idea to me. We'll have to see though. If they have good anchor stores then I have no doubt it will be popular. I wish a Cheesecake Factory would open up there or in Knoxville.

[jabogitlu]

I think this is a very old school type development. I'm really disappointed that this was permitted through. More huge big-box stores sitting in seas of asphalt. Yawn, boring, and really, at the intersection of I-26 and I-81? Looks like Kingsport and Johnson City are completing their urban sprawl to form one big tangled mess along I-26/Kingsport Highway.

I am definitely not excited.... even the name, Heritage Point Towne Center? This isn't at the center of any town. And what is Heritage Point? Blah.

[jchometeam]

I do not mind the location from an urban sprawl perspective (I would rather see this type of development than retail focused in the center of a city). But I think it is a stupid location from a marketing perspective and even worse timing.

There are many people who live in either JC or Kingsport who rarely venture out to the other city and are not typically in this area. Much of the traffic would be long distance travelers who are less interested in retail. If I had a business, I would never locate there.

More importantly, there is excess retail space in each of the tri cities. We cant fill the space we have, why are we building this much more?

[rccrain]

I hope it happens. It would be a major vote of confidence for our area. It's the type of thing you put in corporate relocation packages.

[jchometeam]

Only if it fills up. Nobody is putting it into a relocation package if it is empty like Hamilton Place or many of the other strip mall retail in JC.

[BP72]

Going to drive by the location today. Got to look at a place in JC. Looks like we are finally moving out of Kpt.

[rccrain]

Originally Posted by jchometeam

Only if it fills up. Nobody is putting it into a relocation package if it is empty like Hamilton Place or many of the other strip mall retail in JC.

True, but this location would seem much better than even Exit 7; I think it's a winner. But I really hope they have some firm commitments before they start buying bricks.

[rccrain]

Here's a more detailed article: Massive Shopping Center Planned for I-81/I-26 Junction - Scott Robertson - Tri-Cities Business Journal (http://bjournal.villagesoup.com/news/story/massive-shopping-center-planned-for-i-81-i-26-junction/182718 - broken link)

And a release from the City of Kingsport: Developer planning

[BP72]

Just got back from JC. We got the place and shall be moving.

The site that I think they are going to build on... man, thats going to be some work there. As one of those links states, it will be at least 3 years before the shops can open.