It seems everyone is searching for more clarity about what’s in store for the remaining retail stores at Lake Highlands Plaza (Walnut Hill and Audelia) once the residential development begins in the next couple of months.
As to what stays and what goes at the intersection’s southwest corner, Mark Dann of Highland Classic Homes says “they will be leaving the bank building and looking for local banks … leaving My Office, the vet clinic and the former florist space and, of course, the strip that holds Highland’s Café and T. Hee. Everything else will be gone.”
Meg Robinson of Willingham Property Co. states, “Currently there are no specific plans for improvements to the Lake Highlands Plaza shopping center. The owners will consider options for the remaining retail area after the residential lot development has been completed.”
Kathy Stewart, co-owner of Highlands Café, would ideally like to see a new façade, lower signage, more pedestrian-friendly spaces, lower and more updated lighting or more landscaping. “Our commitment to this intersection dates back 10 years or more,” says Stewart and Highlands Café co-owner Anita Siegers. “We began by ‘adopting the corner’ through volunteer work with the LHAIA. When given the opportunity to open a business at the intersection, we jumped in … So as Lake Highlands residents and business owners, we are disappointed Jerry Allen and the TIF Board did not require the developer and owner of Lake Highlands Plaza to make a commitment to update the buildings in the shopping center. The purpose of these TIF funds is to incentivize developers to redevelop our outdated properties. We fear we have missed the opportunity to incentivize this developer.”
