Hilltop Plaza will undergo full renovation, expansion By ANNETTE ESTERHELD Staff Writer
Hilltop Plaza is undergoing a complete renovation and expansion that includes new free-standing buildings for Bank of America, Walgreens and SunTrust Bank, 30,000 square feet of new retail space and the possibility, no, hope, that McDonald's may remain at the shopping center.
Bruce Levine of M. Leo Storch Management Corp., who built the plaza in the 1960s, said McDonald's "would like to stay if possible" and that the popular chain would be located where Bank of America is currently located.
When Councilman At-large Dennis Brady asked if the renovations would include a grocery store anchor, Levine said that it might be a speciality grocery that would occupy 10,000 square feet of the old Magruder's space, or it still could be a grocery anchor.
Along with the retail renovations, Storch wants to add 49 condo units to the rear five acres of the 16-acre property. To add residential, the developer intends to submit a rezoning application for mixed-use-transportation zoning.
"We're seeking your blessing that we're moving in the right direction," attorney Tom Haller told the council.
Haller, who represents Storch, said the residential component would be consistent with the city's Master Plan and the Mainstreet concept.
"The M-X-T zoning is consistent with the master plan," said Haller. He told the council the company is ready to move ahead with the application. "We want to make sure the city supports residential," he said.
It was obvious from comments of Councilwoman At-large Geraldine Valentino-Smith, Councilwoman Diane Polangin, Councilmen Jimmy Marcos and Isaac Trouth and Brady that the council would like to see senior citizen housing only at the location.
Haller told the council that builders of senior citizen developments like to work with a minimum of 120 units and the property would not support that number nor could it provide space for the type of amenities seniors expect in that housing.
Polangin suggested that a community room might not be necessary since there is a community center less than two miles away and Trouth suggested Walgreens consider adding a community room like other businesses have done.
Brady suggested that Storch partner with the developer at the nearby Marketplace shopping center that together the two developers could package themselves as a single unit to get senior housing.
Mayor Fred Robinson said he would like the company to take the "opportunity to design to help folks get out of large houses."
He added he was "pleased to note a potential grocery tenant."
Levine said construction is under way on the Bank of America pad in the middle of the center's parking lot, and the bank is due to open this summer.
