(WBIR - OAK RIDGE) The fate of the former Oak Ridge Mall is now in the hands of a new developer.
RealtyLink, based in South Carolina, is replacing Crosland Southeast as master developer for the Main Street Oak Ridge project.
According to Crosland Southeast Partner James Downs, they were caught off guard with the news. Downs said they found out during a contract amendment meeting last week.
Local officials are optimistic the new developer can pick up where the last one left off quickly.
"This has been a bit of a black hole for quite some time, and now we are coming around to a finish line," said Oak Ridge City Manager Mark Watson.
Watson said the new developer has a good reputation. RealtyLink currently is working on a project out of Sevier County and plans to finish up soon.
Oak Ridge Mayor Warren Gooch said the switch in developers should not impact and tax increment financing dollars dedicated to the project. He said it involved reapplying the dollars under the new developer's name.
Gooch said the new group will build on the plan started by Crosland Southeast. Watson hopes they can speed up the process of this long-awaited project.
"This particular project, once it gets going, hopefully will make surrounding properties available for further development and establishes this as a northwest metropolitan center," said Watson.
Area merchants welcome progress.
"It's hard for us to get people to know our location, and it's kinda depressing to say we are across from what used to be the mall or we are close to the old mall. It will be nice when we could give new landmarks,." said Lisa Mott owner of Mott's Flower Designs
The former mall property is owned by Oak Ridge Center LLC. Chief Manager of Oak Ridge LLC Steven Arnsdorff had no comment about why the swap in developers was made.
He said he hopes they can work with Crosland Southeast again in the future.
Downs said they do not know of any future involvement at this time.
