Arlington Set for Commercial Expansion

Developer interest builds in growing residential community

ANDY MEEK

The Daily News

When its finished, Memphis developer David Goodwin Jr. hopes his 16,800-square-foot shopping center in Arlington fills a niche in the growing community in northeast Shelby County.

No similar developments exist in the town of almost 2,000 residents, he said, and the project has generated enough excitement that, while ground hasnt been broken yet, the shopping center is already 50 percent leased.

A good response. Goodwin is in the process of finalizing negotiations and lining up tenants for the shopping center, to be built at 5780 Airline Road, and has signed several leases so far.

Its been a really good response, he said.

Possible tenants for the shopping center could include a coffee retailer, some restaurants and a book store. Goodwin anticipates the center will be ready to open by February.

We feel like its a good market out there, one thats really been underserved so far, he said.

An untapped market. Goodwin, who is also an active residential developer in Arlington, said he decided the commercial property he owned on Airline Road was a good fit for a Class A retail outlet, since there really is none out there at this point strip center-wise, anyway, he said.

He added that the development will be located at a major crossroads in Arlington.

A building permit for the shopping center was filed July 29 for $611,068, according to The Daily News Public Records Database, www.memphisdailynews.com.

Chris Woods Construction Co. is the contractor and Goodwin-Henry Properties LLC will own the development.

Chris Woods of Chris Woods Construction Co. said the shopping center will have a brick veneer and the look of a typical neighborhood shopping center.

We applied for the permit last week and expect to start within 30 days, Woods said.

He estimated that completion of the developments exterior will take about four months.

Eyes on Arlington. In explaining his interest in developing the property, Goodwin said he noticed he wasnt the only one with his eye on Arlington: His interest was fueled by the fact that about one family per day moves in to the town and many residents seem to want developments like his to come to the area.

The town is also home to businesses in a number of industries, such as Wright Medical Technology Inc., and Goodwin said there seems to be a real appetite from people for restaurant and food-service types of businesses, also.

Gradual growth. Arlington Mayor Russell Wiseman said the town just got its first quick-service restaurant, Back Yard Burgers, adding that other, similar developments might be slower in coming. Wiseman estimated Arlingtons current population at 2,000, with about 50 new households coming into the town each month.

Developers usually look for a population of 2,500 to 3,000 before they begin building major developments in an area, he said.

As far as commercial (developments) go, I dont think we have enough rooftops yet for most of that stuff, he said. Ive talked to other municipalities about when we can expect some commercial things to really begin, though, and it will come. Lord knows we need it.

Among current projects in the area, Wiseman said he has noticed multiple signs announcing strip malls and businesses coming soon.

He added that Kroger has purchased land in Arlington, but doesnt appear to be in a hurry to get anything under way.

Theyre taking their time as far as spending the amount of capital to build a store because they want to get a certain return on their investment, he said. Theyve put their plans through, but they havent pulled a permit or started yet.

On the cusp. Wiseman, who will have been mayor of Arlington for one year next month, is confident the town is on the cusp of a commercial breakout.

It wont take too much longer, he said. Itll come.

For now, Goodwin is excited about the area and said he is looking forward to finishing other projects in Arlington, including a project that involves 66 residential lots he owns in the area.

His company also sold some of its commercial property in Arlington to a day care center. Construction on the facility will probably begin in the next 30 days.

Future plans. Goodwin is also planning to develop a variety of his other commercial and residential properties in the area. He said he is working with a large retailer on the last commercial lot he owns near the site of his planned shopping center. Hes also ready to begin marketing 23 acres he owns at Interstate 40 and Airline Road, which hes currently in the process of grading.

Im looking forward to doing a lot of things in Arlington, Goodwin said. I think its a great community and a great market.