With construction projects continuing throughout Jackson and Madison County, Point5Digital.com and 101.5 FM WNWS visited with Gary Taylor of Gary A. Taylor Investment Co., for a question and answer session and asked him about updates on three of his Developments 1) The Columns development located on Vann Drive, 2) Park Place East and West development located on Dr. F.E. Wright Drive and 3) Smith Farms Development located at old Humboldt Rd and Highway 45 Bypass.
Question: At 1150 Vann Drive in the Columns, your 25,000-square-foot shopping center is fully occupied – Pizza Rev, Jenny Craig, Skechers to name a few of the businesses. Boot Barn Western & Work Wear opens in April at 1775 Vann Drive. Can you give us a look – your projects – into what’s next for the area?
Answer: We are currently constructing a 21,500-square-foot Furniture Factory Outlet located next to Goodwill on Vann Drive which is scheduled to open in October 2017.
Q: There’s an additional 106 acres on Vann Drive that borders Country Club Lane. Is there a timeline for development of this property?
A: We are excited about our concept plans for a Work, Live and Play project on the 106 acres. The concept calls for a high-in multi-family apartment complex, office and retail – all inner-connected for walkability. … a destination that people will enjoy living, shopping and working.
Q: Smith Farms, where a movie theater, supermarket, office complex and residential development are just a few of the projects envisioned to occupy space between Oil Well Road and Old Humboldt Road off the U.S. 45 Bypass. What is the latest on this proposed development?
A: We are disappointed that the Malco Theatre project has been postponed. We are currently talking to several other theaters about coming to Jackson. We believe the Jackson movie theater market is severely under served. We also have ongoing conversations with other grocery stores. The alignment of national tenants often times takes much longer than expected. In some cases we have discussions with tenants for five years before they make a commitment to come.
Q: Can you catch us up on the blueprints for Park Place West?
A: SpringHill Suites (Marriott) purchased 2.0 acres and they are building a 92-unit hotel … starting this fall. Burger King is under contract to purchase 0.92 acres to close in April, with construction starting in May.
Q: Let’s jump across Dr. F.E. Wright Drive and discuss what’s on the drawing board for Park Place East.
A: La Quinta Inn just purchased 2.0 acres and they are building a 90-unit hotel … starting this fall. Waffle House is under contract to purchase 0.62 acres in April – and start construction in May.
Q: Best Western Plus is poised to become the first hotel to locate in Park Place West and the second in the area (Holiday Inn Express is located in Park Place East, near the West Tennessee Healthcare Sportsplex). When will construction begin on the project and how many rooms will the hotel offer when complete?
A: This summer … 92 units consisting of the new prototype designed to meet the needs of the next generation. The hospitality business has been extremely strong in the Jackson market.
David Thomas, Twitter – @DavidThomas@WNWS
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