A previously distributed artistic rendering shows what the completed Centralia Station Project, could look like.
Powell Development confirmed Wednesday that it is still invested in the Centralia Station project and working to move forward with its retail development, despite the loss of anchor tenant Fred Meyer.
“There are a myriad of options out there and we’re working on it,” said Ross Vontver, director of development for Powell Development.
Peter Powell, chief executive officer of Powell Development, was not available for comment.
Port of Centralia Executive Director Kyle Heaton said he did not have an update for Powell Development’s progress. However, Heaton touched on the I-5/Mellen Connector project — part of the Centralia Station project — at the Port of Centralia Commission’s regular meeting on Wednesday.
“We have submitted 30 percent plans to WSDOT (the Washington State Department of Transportation),” Heaton said. “... We received a few comments, nothing real major. They wanted a right-turn lane extended a couple hundred feet, which triggered some additional drainage pipe that we will need (and) they wanted the pedestrian islands painted white instead of yellow.”
Heaton said the port will submit 60 percent drawings by the end of January, and then meet with WSDOT.
“Really, the ball has been in DOT’s court for the last six months,” Heaton said. “They have shown a sudden motivation, I would say. So we are progressing things along.”
Fred Meyer was previously set to be the retail development’s anchor tenant at Centralia Station. However, the Port of Centralia announced in late December that negotiations between Powell Development and Fred Meyer for a 175,000 square-foot anchor store were over.
In 2017, the developer entered into a real estate and purchase agreement with the port for roughly 28 acres of land, which is set to expire near the end of March.
Powell Development is currently working to secure a new anchor tenant.
When asked if he believes Powell Development will be able to secure a new anchor tenant before its contract expires with the Port of Centralia, Vontver said, “Developers are by nature optimistic. If we weren’t, we wouldn’t be doing this and putting our time and money at risk. So I have a great deal of optimism about this project.”
Vontver declined to elaborate on the developer’s progress.
“I don’t have anything concrete really to comment about at this point,” Vontver said. “… We are still very enthusiastic about the project. By no means has that enthusiasm on our part weaned. It’s a great piece of property (and) it’s a great community which has a need we intend to fill.”
