A proposed commercial development along Stones Crossing Road is expanding to include an additional 40 acres of space for restaurants, shops and businesses.
Jack and Patty Swartz, who own more than 90 acres of land on the east side of State Road 135, south of Stones Crossing Road, had about 50 acres rezoned two years ago, with a hospital planned on the site. Now, they requested the remainder of their property, including land adjacent to Stones Crossing Road, be rezoned for commercial use, with plans to market the land to developers. The Greenwood City Council unanimously approved the rezoning this week.
The hospital project is the only one underway so far, but the Swartz’s attorney, Pete Cleveland, said interest in the Swartz Crossing development is increasing.
One contract with an unidentified developer has been signed, and other negotiations are under way. Projects could break ground as early as the spring of 2018, he said. The possibilities include restaurants, shops and offices.
“We’re pleased with the progress, it is a massive project, and we think it will be an attractive product in the end. The interest we’re seeing in the sites confirms that.”
One major project already underway at the site is a Franciscan Health medical office building. The micro-hospital will provide emergency health services as well as family medicine and therapy. The 108,000-square-foot, $50 million complex is set to open in the first half of 2018 on 18 acres.
Interior access roads are being built and utilities are being installed, Cleveland said. An offsite sewer main has already been completed. Infrastructure work will continue through 2018, he said.
As part of the project, improvements will be made to State Road 135 and Stones Crossing Road, such as adding acceleration and deceleration lanes to allow drivers to get in and out of the commercial site, Cleveland said.
The intersection has been long considered prime for development. Last year, the city of Greenwood created a tax-increment financing, or TIF, district along State Road 135 to help set aside funding to bring new infrastructure and development to the area, meaning tax dollars generated from the Swartz Crossing project will be collected for use by the Greenwood Redevelopment Commission for other projects along the west side of the city.
No further plans for the property besides the Franciscan Health development have been submitted to the city, Greenwood planning director Bill Peeples said.
