A 73-acre plot of land just south of Charlottesville city limits will soon become the 5th Street Station shopping center. The land is currently being cleared while underground infrastructure is installed.
First classified as a light-industrial zone, the plot was used for temporary research, development and manufacturing, but remained vacant for two decades. In 2008, the land’s status changed to a commercial zone, allowing for future retail construction.
Situated off Interstate I-64, the shopping center will contain about 75,000 square feet of stores and is predicted to bring $9 million in annual tax revenue to Albemarle County. White Hall District Supervisor Ann Mallek said the shopping center will provide employment opportunities to Albemarle residents.
“Anytime you have successful business, it will help employment,” Mallek said. “One of the tenants is Wegmans, who is anticipated to hire more than 600 people.”
Though the mall’s plot falls under Albemarle County’s jurisdiction, Albemarle had to negotiate with Charlottesville officials regarding potential traffic conflicts and streets leading to the shopping center entrance. Charlottesville Vice Mayor Dede Smith said the city hopes to ease traffic in the area by constructing a through street connecting 5th Street to Avon Street.
Charlottesville City Council said it hopes the development will also improve the water quality of Moore’s Creek, which runs through both Albemarle County and Charlottesville. The creek’s water has been labelled unsafe for swimming and fishing since 1998.
The mall will also house retail stores which are currently too far for convenience of local residents. These stores include Field and Stream, Dick’s Sporting Goods and Petsmart.
The shopping center will “[provide] shopping opportunities on the south side of our city that haven’t been available before,” Smith said. “People won’t have to travel as far. Everybody seems to be very excited about the Wegmans!”
Wegmans is planned to open fall 2016 with other businesses to follow.
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