Demolition clears way for new shopping center
By Barbara Arntsen
Published in News on January 31, 2005 2:01 PM
Demolition has begun on the apartment buildings now occupying the future site of the Berkeley Commons Shopping Center.
The new shopping center will be built on the west side of North Berkeley Boulevard between Parkway Drive and Hill Drive Circle, across from Lowe's Home Improvement Store.
Four new stores have committed to locating at the shopping center: T.J. Maxx, Circuit City, Ross's and Bed, Bath and Beyond.
The 21-acre site was rezoned from residential and general business to shopping center earlier this year.
Two additional parcels, containing 7,000 square feet and 10,000 square feet, have been reserved on the northern and southern ends of the shopping center.
It has been rumored that an Old Navy Store will locate on one of those parcels, and that an upscale restaurant will occupy the other.
Goldsboro City Planner Randy Guthrie said he had heard the rumors, but could not confirm them.
"It's been a strong rumor that Old Navy is coming, but we haven't received any paperwork," he said.
Guthrie said that he is not sure when construction of the shopping center will begin, but said he believes it could be in February.
"I know they want to start as soon as possible," he said.
The state Transportation Department is requiring that an additional travel lane be built on the west side of Berkeley Boulevard to accomodate the expected traffic. In addition to the new travel lane, there will also be a traffic island built on Berkeley Boulevard.
The state plans to widen Berkeley Boulevard within the next few years. Guthrie said that the development company and the state were still discussing who should pay for the new traffic lane.
The city won't issue a certificate of occupancy until the traffic lane is built. The developer is also required to build sidewalks in front of the shopping center along Berkeley Boulevard.