LELAND — Developers of Leland Town Center recently switched hands. But plans for a new, highly-anticipated Chick-fil-A are still on.
Though the long-planned project is behind schedule, Leland was clear about plans to keep the national retailer on board.
Related: Growth in Leland continues as new restaurants and retail move in
According to the project’s developer, C&S Commercial Properties, plans are picking up where things left off. Leland’s economic and community development director, Gary Vidmar, said Tuesday the Leland Town Center is “back on track.”
In 2017, Twin Rivers Capital, a Charleston-based development company, announced its interest in purchasing and developing 60-acres off Highway 17. According to a January 2019 economic development update, Twin Rivers Capital still had the property under contract. However, Twin Rivers Capital is no longer associated with the project. The project’s management company of approximately six years, C&S Commercial Properties, will instead carry on with developing Leland Town Center.
Palmer Williams, a developer with C&S Commercial Properties, said the lengthy sale to Twin Rivers Capital recently fell through. However, Williams said plans for the development will stay similar, with some tweaks.
“The front four out parcels aren’t going to change,” Williams said. “The overall site plan, the idea and how it all lays out is going to be fairly similar.”
The first phase of the project is set to include a Chick-fil-A and a 9,240 sq. ft. retail building. The second phase, including potential big box, junior anchor tenants, is still being planned, Palmer said. Palmer declined to comment on details of other potential or planned tenants, noting negotiations are still ongoing.
“I have been told that C&S [Commercial Properties] plans to proceed with essentially the same master plan that was put in place by Twin Rivers,” Vidmar wrote in an email.
According to Vidmar, the multi-tenant building could be anchored by Starbucks, among other yet-to-be-determined retailers.
In a March 2019 economic development report update, Vidmar stated the Twin Rivers Capital’s overall site plans will stay intact. Original plans for the site include a mix of office, retail, restaurant and civic space. Dubbed Leland Town Center, Twin Rivers Capital first announced the project would bring 250,000 square feet of commercial space to Leland.
“The developer is hoping to get the project back on track very soon including construction of a Chick-fil-A and a multi-tenant retail building on the [outlets] on Highway 17,” Vidmar’s update states.
Twin Rivers Capital announced in 2017 Chick-Fil-A would open by summer 2018. According to Palmer, Leland residents can expect the Chick-Fil-A to be open in early 2020.
Leland’s Economic Development Committee will meet Thursday, March 14, at 3 p.m. at Leland Town Hall.
Send tips and comments to Johanna Ferebee at johanna@localvoicemedia.com
