The city is reviewing a permit for a $3.84 million interior renovation for Winn-Dixie at College Park, the renamed Town & Country Shopping Center in Arlington.
ShayCore LLC is the contractor for the project to renovate 43,615 square feet of space for the Jacksonville-based grocer, which is returning to the property at 999 University Blvd. N.
Winn-Dixie will lease 48,738 square feet of space where parent company Southeastern Grocers said it opened in 1997 and closed in 2006.
Winn-Dixie will return in 2023 and create more than 100 jobs. The store is next to Dollar General.
Jacksonville-based JWB Real Estate Capital is redeveloping the 69-year-old retail plaza at northeast University Boulevard and Arlington Expressway.
Meredith Hurley, director of public relations and community for Southeastern Grocers, said in April the supermarket will be similar to the layout of the company’s new and recently “refreshed” North Florida stores.
It also will have “customized details with the tastes and preferences of our Arlington neighbors in mind,” Hurley said.
Winn-Dixie is a banner of Jacksonville-based Southeastern Grocers.
President and CEO Anthony Hucker said March 3 that the College Park Winn-Dixie allows Southeastern Grocers “to expand in our hometown and return to the area to provide a unique grocery shopping experience for the Arlington community.”
“We plan to make a significant investment in the store to support the revitalization of the community and will welcome more than 100 associates to provide needed jobs and ensure our new customers receive remarkable service,” Hucker said in a statement.
Property records show Town & Country was built between 1953 and 1979. It comprises about 189,000 square feet of space.
The property is part of the Renew Arlington Community Redevelopment Area, which the city hopes to assist with rejuvenation.
Through 903 University Blvd LLC, JWB Real Estate Capital paid almost $5.1 million for the 18.27-acre property in August 2019.
JWB President Alex Sifakis said previously the cost to develop the first phase of College Park is $18.5 million, paid for by financing, city incentives and JWB’s cash.
The first phase includes the parking lot renovations and facade work, which are underway.
The first sign of renovation was when Jacksonville artists created an eight-panel mural in early 2020 on the side of the building facing the expressway.
In June 2021, the Renew Arlington Community Redevelopment Agency board approved an almost $1.31 million code compliance grant to the new owners, as well as a $2 million infrastructure development grant payable up to $400,000 annually over five years.
The city approved a permit in June 2021 for Reliant Roofing Inc. to re-roof the center at a cost of $1 million.
The city approved a permit Jan. 5, 2022, for ShayCore to renovate the facade at a cost of $4.5 million.
The first phase also creates two building pads for the second phase, which will consist of a shipping container food court and a multifamily project of 82 market-rate apartments among two three-story buildings in the parking lot corner at the expressway and University Boulevard.
Sifakis said the second phase should come online 12 to 18 months after completion of the first phase.
