By Staff
A new Walgreens store is in the future for Hartselle, providing on-going negotiations between a Knoxville, Tenn. developer and three Highway 31 North property owners are successful.
Mayor Dwight Tankersley said Copeland Properties is buying the northwest corner lot of the Highway 31 and 36 intersection, where O'Reilly Auto Parts is currently located, as part of a proposed new commercial development project. Plans are to raze the parts store, replace it with a Walgreens store and build a replacement building for the auto parts store.
The corner lot has been owned by Tankersley's family since 1985. Two other highway 31 and 36 properties are a part of the development plan.
Jim Corum said his family is negotiating with Copeland for the purchase of about 1.5 acres of Highway 31 and Rooks Street frontage property, which includes a five-unit strip mall and adjoining warehouse building. All five of the units are currently occupied and the Corums use the warehouse for storage.
The RE-MAX Plus real estate offices and property fronting on Highway 36 is also a part of the development plan. Mark Hampton is owner of the property.
"We're in a planning stage now and have two or three more phases to go through before the deal can be finalized," Corum said.
Tankersley said he was approached by Copeland about his property about six months ago.
"Two new buildings will change the look of the hub of the Highway 31 business corridor and bring in additional tax revenue for the city," Tankersley said. "But even more importantly, I believe it will lead to other business development."
He said property acquisitions pertaining to the project should be finalized by the end of October or early November.