Old Hills/Kroger Center

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   I’ve heard a rumor that the old Hills/Kroger shopping center is to be torn down and redeveloped as light industrial.
Anyone else hearing this?  Would make sense.  It’s pretty vacant as the moment.  Would love to see the same for the old Target Center.  The area around it is pretty industrial as well.

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swohio75 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List MUSA Citizen Joined: Jun 13 2008 Status: Offline Points: 820	Post Options Post Reply Quote swohio75 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Old Hills/Kroger Center Posted: Aug 23 2010 at 11:59am
	I’ve heard a rumor that the old Hills/Kroger shopping center is to be torn down and redeveloped as light industrial. Anyone else hearing this? Would make sense. It’s pretty vacant as the moment. Would love to see the same for the old Target Center. The area around it is pretty industrial as well.

spiderjohn Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Prominent MUSA Citizen Joined: Jul 01 2007 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 2749	Post Options Post Reply Quote spiderjohn Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Aug 23 2010 at 1:07pm
	The former Ayr-Way/Target/Dillman Foods-Savealot center is pretty much filled at this time, though it may not look that way. The former Target building is now rented(with option to purchase) by the box co.currently occupying the former Square D site. They are using the facility for storage. The Savealot location(which is owned by the operators who have filled that site since the center opened) is still very functional and profitable. Salvation Army has drastically increased their presence, filling up the locations in between. SA has made major improvements to the space and plans on an extended run there. With no other retail or services in the immediate area, the combo of Salvation Army and Savealot seem to be the perfect mix to service that immediate area. I wouldn't expect any cosmetic improvements from the property owner any time soon. As for the Hills/Kroger center--it has been dead for decades. Not that "light industrial" is booming in the area. Still--if it would mean local employment.......

Rhodes Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List MUSA Resident Joined: Jun 18 2010 Status: Offline Points: 209	Post Options Post Reply Quote Rhodes Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Aug 23 2010 at 1:25pm
	Does anyone know the story behind the Hills/Kroger Plaza? Why was it built all the way down there and does anyone know when it was built? It always seemed strange to me for that location. Unless maybe the city planned on an I-75 ramp at Oxford State, but if so, wouldn't there have already been one up on 122 at the same time?

swohio75 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List MUSA Citizen Joined: Jun 13 2008 Status: Offline Points: 820	Post Options Post Reply Quote swohio75 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Aug 23 2010 at 2:57pm
	The idea for an interchange at Greentree/Oxford State Rd has been on the planning books for decades. Not sure when the Center was built, but it likely was after the 122/75 interchange was completed. As part of the RailRoad Xing discussion at the last council meeting, it does sound if Oxford State Road is FINALLY going to be improved around 2015. Dave said that it was to be widened to support the SunCoke project. Not sure what that means—a center turn lane or two lanes in each direction. The original plans for Oxford State Road called for it to be relocated/realigned and widened to four lanes. This would have removed the very dangerous curves that currently exist. Here’s the info taken from the current master plan found on the city’s website: *Upgrades to Existing Roadways.* Oxford State Road from S.R. 4 to just west of Breiel Boulevard has been shown on Middletown’s master plans since the 1970’s but most of this area has been outside the City limits until recently. A very small portion remains outside the City’s control. Right-of-way acquisition will be difficult through the west half of this project as a number of older houses and small businesses have been built near the roadway. Two major rail lines cross this section of Oxford State Road representing a major expense for grade separation. This project, however, would present an alternative to the Trenton Bypass that would serve a similar purpose while yielding more direct improvements in access to Middletown *1.3.5.* Widen Oxford State Road from Breiel Boulevard to SR 73. It says widen, but not by how much. Nothing about relocating the road. Speaking of plans, the site of the old Target center was originally proposed as industrial, if you look at the master plan from the 1960s. I believe it is referenced as the Garfield Industrial Park. Not sure why the decision was made to develop commercial.

spiderjohn Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Prominent MUSA Citizen Joined: Jul 01 2007 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 2749	Post Options Post Reply Quote spiderjohn Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Aug 23 2010 at 3:43pm
	The Kroger/Hill's center was a major Kroger mistake, and was fueled by housing/appt. starts to the north and east, along with the possible Greentree exit. Kroger didn't do well there, because it was out of the way, and at that time, Dillman Foods on Roosevelt was going very strong, and McGee's still had a presence in the Breiel Center. Then white collar jobs were prominent, and all areas of the city had management presence and activity. Kroger killed the site for decades to keep similar development out, while deleloping the Town Mall location. As for the Ayr-Way/Dillman Foods center on S.University, that was a plum offered by the city when Reedy's Foods(very successful and owned by the Dillman Family) and downtown retail were displaced for the construction of the City Center Mall. The southwest end of town was left without anything until that mall opened. It opened very successfully in 1972, along with the Cambridge Inn. Believe it or not, that Dillman Foods location was the prototype for the upscale variety trend now dominated locally by Dorothy Lane Markets and Jungle Jim. With Armco general offices still in place b4 the move to NJ, the elite shopped this store, which featured the area's first expanded deli with hot foods, full scratch bakery and gourmet custom cut meats and the largest wine assortment in the area. The center rocked with a shoe store, paint store,beauty salon, Hughie's service recruiters etc. filling the spaces. Once high end management moved on, the paper mills and Armco downsized, Square D moved on, and the City Center Mall fizzled, this area was long forgotten. Dillman Foods(now as Savealot) has been the only business to exist since day 1, similar to their position at the K-Mart center on Roosevelt. Should this center be leveled? Well--it is the only retail left in the area.

VietVet Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List MUSA Council Joined: May 15 2008 Status: Offline Points: 7008	Post Options Post Reply Quote VietVet Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Aug 23 2010 at 7:35pm
	Spider- didn't know that Reedy's Foods was once owned by the Dillman family. Went to school with Kent Reedy of that food store family. Back in the 60's, Reedy's Foods was a popular place to shop. I believe it sat on Verity diagonally across from the old Central Store (Richies Pawn Central to the newer folks).

Bocephus Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List MUSA Citizen Joined: Jun 04 2009 Status: Offline Points: 838	Post Options Post Reply Quote Bocephus Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Aug 23 2010 at 8:08pm
	I miss Hills ,does any one remember the roasted cashews from thier food service?