ARTICLE
Construction on the Hamilton Crossings shopping center is in the home stretch, according to the site developer who gave an update on the project to a crowd of more than 200 members of the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday. Tim Harrison, principal of New York-based TCH Realty and Development Co. LLC, said "lots of leasing and construction has happened" during a slide presentation at Brookside Country Club. After a few years of securing financial backing from both private and public entities, and going through rounds of zoning hearings, Harrison said the $140 million project will be mostly finished by July. One of the center's anchors, Costco, will open in the fall. Standing between Route 222 and Hamilton Boulevard along Krocks Road in Lower Macungie Township, Lehigh County, the center will cover 570,000 square feet. "You can call this Hamilton Crossings 2.0," Harrison said. "This development project is like a giant mosaic - there's 1,000 pieces, and all the pieces have to be together for it to take shape." Ron Eichenberg, chairman of the Western Lehigh Chamber and a former Lower Macungie commissioner, said Harrison is "unique in the industry because he's a gentleman developer." Eichenberg added that if the township or PennDOT wanted an adjustment, Harrison's answer was always, "no problem. We can work on it." Perhaps the most anticipated part of the presentation came later when Harrison went through the list of signed tenants. He said 26 of 35 spots have been filled and negotiations for the others are ongoing. The anchors - Costco, Target, Whole Foods and Nordstrom Rack - had been previously announced. They will be joined by Dick's Sporting Goods, PetSmart, DSW, Pier 1 Imports, Old Navy, Ulta and Five Below. Smaller retailers include a Fine Wine and Good Spirits store, Vision Works, Aspen Dental, Kay Jewelers, Chipotle, Anthony's Coal Fired Pizza, Hair Cuttery, Hand and Stone Massage and AT&T Wireless. Other brands coming to Hamilton Crossings, that are fairly new to the region, include: Rally House, a sporting goods store that specializes in professional team apparel. It has a location in Upper Providence Township, Montgomery County. B.J.'s Brew House, a California-based chain of brewpubs, features its own brand of beer. Core Life Eatery, a restaurant branching out from its Syracuse, N.Y. home base. It specializes in healthy and organic foods. Smashburger, a fast-casual hamburger chain. The Denver-based restaurant already has a few locations around Philadelphia. Corner Bakery Cafe, which specializes in all three meals. "We wanted retailers that are best in their class because they have staying power," Harrison said. In addition to the retail space, Harrison said some park land will be developed, including three common areas, one of which includes a stage with electricity for concerts. There will also be 2.5 miles of walking trails and bike lanes built along Krocks Road. Contact Evan Jones: 610-371-5066 or ejones@readingeagle.com. See more at: http://www.readingeagle.com/money/article/tenant-list-takes-shape-for-hamilton-crossings#sthash.crPHv0MZ.dpuf
Construction on the Hamilton Crossings shopping center is in the home stretch, according to the site developer who gave an update on the project to a crowd of more than 200 members of the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday.
Tim Harrison, principal of New York-based TCH Realty and Development Co. LLC, said "lots of leasing and construction has happened" during a slide presentation at Brookside Country Club.
After a few years of securing financial backing from both private and public entities, and going through rounds of zoning hearings, Harrison said the $140 million project will be mostly finished by July. One of the center's anchors, Costco, will open in the fall.
Standing between Route 222 and Hamilton Boulevard along Krocks Road in Lower Macungie Township, Lehigh County, the center will cover 570,000 square feet.
"You can call this Hamilton Crossings 2.0," Harrison said. "This development project is like a giant mosaic - there's 1,000 pieces, and all the pieces have to be together for it to take shape."
Ron Eichenberg, chairman of the Western Lehigh Chamber and a former Lower Macungie commissioner, said Harrison is "unique in the industry because he's a gentleman developer."
Eichenberg added that if the township or PennDOT wanted an adjustment, Harrison's answer was always, "no problem. We can work on it."
Perhaps the most anticipated part of the presentation came later when Harrison went through the list of signed tenants. He said 26 of 35 spots have been filled and negotiations for the others are ongoing.
The anchors - Costco, Target, Whole Foods and Nordstrom Rack - had been previously announced.
They will be joined by Dick's Sporting Goods, PetSmart, DSW, Pier 1 Imports, Old Navy, Ulta and Five Below. Smaller retailers include a Fine Wine and Good Spirits store, Vision Works, Aspen Dental, Kay Jewelers, Chipotle, Anthony's Coal Fired Pizza, Hair Cuttery, Hand and Stone Massage and AT&T Wireless.
Other brands coming to Hamilton Crossings, that are fairly new to the region, include:
Rally House, a sporting goods store that specializes in professional team apparel. It has a location in Upper Providence Township, Montgomery County.
B.J.'s Brew House, a California-based chain of brewpubs, features its own brand of beer.
Core Life Eatery, a restaurant branching out from its Syracuse, N.Y. home base. It specializes in healthy and organic foods.
Smashburger, a fast-casual hamburger chain. The Denver-based restaurant already has a few locations around Philadelphia.
Corner Bakery Cafe, which specializes in all three meals.
"We wanted retailers that are best in their class because they have staying power," Harrison said.
In addition to the retail space, Harrison said some park land will be developed, including three common areas, one of which includes a stage with electricity for concerts. There will also be 2.5 miles of walking trails and bike lanes built along Krocks Road.
Contact Evan Jones: 610-371-5066 or ejones@readingeagle.com.