Development at Whitney-Pearl Ready to Move When Court Gives OK

Behind-the-scenes planning for a development at the corner of Pearl and Whitney roads has continued over the last few months while foreclosure issues are ironed out in the courts.

City officials met with representatives from WXZ Development Inc. in mid-November to talk about landscaping and other issues, according to Economic Development Director Brent Painter, who said the city wants to make sure that corner in the city's north end is both useful and attractive.

"The city wants to see it done right," Painter said. "We want a good, strong company base in there."

The legal issues that have  there could be resolved in a few days or a few months, but Painter said he believes it will be soon.

"From everything we're hearing, they think it's a matter of weeks," he said.

The parcel has been tied up in foreclosure since the Toledo-based Timberstone development group ran into financial obstacles and bowed out in 2009.

Timberstone was the second developer to plan and then abandon a project there.

Residents were promised a major retail project, to be called Renaissance Park, that would include a grocery store and a mix of other retail and restaurants by original developer David Lewanski, who in late 2005 said he had commitments from Lowe's, Bed Bath & Beyond and Circuit City to locate there.

Lowe's and  have been constructed so far. Circuit City is out of business, and  built a store at the Plaza at SouthPark.

When Lewanski left, Timberstone proposed a multi-phased project that would include smaller retail stores, restaurants and office space. 

Timberstone's other Strongsville project, a Kindercare on an outlot at , was also abandoned mid-construction. 

WXZ posted signs this summer seeking retailers for its development.

At least one potential company came forward with plans to build there.  restaurant earlier this year applied for a liquor permit, but withdrew it because a typo in the application put the business in the wrong location.

The restaurant wanted to build at 9149 Pearl Rd., in front of Lowe's. The application listed the address as 9194 Pearl Rd., on the other side of the street, apparently next to the former Quality Catering.

Council President Mike Daymut said the Nashville, TN-based restaurant chain decided it was not ready to move forward for several reasons and withdrew the permit request.