A proposed retail development would bring a 19-store shopping center to Whitestown.
The plan, called the Shoppes at Whitestown, would be located between Central Boulevard and Perry Worth Road to the north and south, and Interstate 65 and Main Street to the west and east. The 19 stores would range in size from 2,500 to 55,000 square feet.
In a site plan submitted to the Whitestown Plan Commission, developer Realty Link calls for two buildings to be constructed on the 33-acre site, with a new road between them. The road would run north to south and connect the shops to Perry Worth Road and Central Boulevard.
The west building would contain 164,520 square feet and 10 storefronts and the east would contain 103,020 square feet and nine storefronts.
The rest of the land will be split into seven parcels, which may be developed in the future, according to the site plan.
The plans also call for the construction of a roundabout at the south entrance to the shops, where Perry Worth Road meets Mill Drive. The roundabout would connect the two roads to the new connecting road.
Duke Realty owns the land, but plans to sell it to Realty Link, Whitestown Town Manager Dax Norton said. The storefronts are slated to open in summer 2018, according to Realty Link’s website.
Norton said the project has already generated controversy on Whitestown Connection, a Facebook group of Whitestown residents.
Residents who live near the site are concerned about the recent closures of many big box stores and whether bringing them to the area will mean a future filled with vacant storefronts.
According to Realty Link’s website, Hobby Lobby and Shoe Dept. Encore have signed leases to occupy 55,000-square-foot and 22,500-square-foot stores in the west building.
Burlington Coat Factory, Five Below, Maurice’s, T.J. Maxx, Ulta, Kirkland’s, Ross, rue21, Petco and Sally Beauty have all filed letters of intent to lease space in the two buildings.
Another four of the storefronts, as well as three of the separate parcels located across the parking lot from the shopping center, are listed as in “discussion.” One of the parcels could potentially house a 4,569-square-foot restaurant.
Realty Link will host a public meeting on May 3 at the Whitestown Municipal Complex to address resident questions and concerns. The site plan will go before the Whitestown Plan Commission for approval at its May 8 meeting.
The developer will need approval from the plan commission, board of zoning appeals and Whitestown Town Council to begin construction.