Photo by Erica Techo.
Construction on a Chevron gas station and Piggly Wiggly grocery store on Dunnavant Valley Road is now underway.
Construction has started on the new commercial properties on Dunnavant Valley Road.
The area, located across the street from Mt Laurel town center, will soon be home to a Chevron, Piggly Wiggly and retail strip to be leased by The Shopping Center Group. Signs announcing the gas station and grocery companies went up on the property over the summer.
“We anticipate starting construction of the Dunnavant Valley Chevron as soon as mid-September,” said Lauren Thornton of Thornton, Inc., the developer of the commercial uses. “It’ll likely be open for business in March of 2018.”
Construction on the Piggly Wiggly is set to start Oct. 1, and it will hopefully be open by June 2018, Thornton said.
“The community reaction has been tremendous knowing that a Piggly Wiggly will be coming to Dunnavant Valley,” Thornton said. “Neighbors have said for some time now they want a grocery, and having a locally-owned and operated Piggly Wiggly is the absolute best choice for the area.”
The development was first approved as part of a master plan in 2008 and included a grocery store, convenience store and gas pumps. Multiple modifications to the master plan have been made throughout the years, with the most recent change being approved in May.
As of May 15, the master plan for retail space included buildings — one 4,800 square feet, and two at 7,200 square feet — for general office or retail use and around 120 parking spaces.
While initially proposed with three gas pumps, the gas station will now have four, which has become an “industry standard,” DC Oil Company president David Collins told the planning commission at its Sept. 19 meeting. All buildings are set to reflect surrounding architecture.
“We are thrilled to have the finish line on this project in sight.” Thornton said. “It certainly has been a long time in the making, and we can’t wait to watch it all come together.”
In addition to the retail developments, Thornton is also working on the pedestrian tunnel that will go under County Road 41.
“We’re very excited to report that the Dunnavant Square Cooperative District tunnel project is well underway,” Thornton said. “We expect to wrap it up around February of 2018.”
