Some say Exit 19 'ripe for growth'

ABINGDON, Va. – With at least five major projects on the way, developers say the area around Interstate 81’s Exit 19 is poised to be the next hot spot.

"I don’t think it could ever be an Exit 7," said developer Steve Weston, referring to the retail development boom in Bristol Virginia.

But Weston, who owns the Abingdon Cinemall and is planning a residential development near Exit 19, said "for Abingdon, it’s going to be the closest you could get to an Exit 7-type of expansion."

Other developers also say Exit 19 – with large tracts of undeveloped land in Washington County at the north end of Abingdon, access to two major highways and water, sewer and gas services – is ripe for growth.

For months, the talk of the town has been plans at the interchange for a large retail development that may include a Lowe’s home improvement store.

"The idea is there’s a big-box retailer that intends on locating on that site," said Steve Johnson, a developer heavily involved in the Exit 7 growth. He has purchased land beside the interchange but would not name the store.

"I have several peripheral development opportunities that I think will consist of additional retail, banking and dining," he said.

Johnson said he hopes to break ground on the shopping center this fall.

Maureen Rich, a spokeswoman for Lowe’s, said the company is not ready to announce that a store will locate in Abingdon.

"It’s our policy not to comment about specific sites Lowe’s may be considering for new stores unless we have closed on all real estate matters," Rich wrote in an e-mail to the Herald Courier. "We have not done that in Abingdon, Va."

Clerks at the Exit 19 Shell gas station – near the expected future site of Lowe’s – said they would welcome retail development.

"I’d like to see a Lowe’s come in and put some of these other high-priced places out of business," said James Arnold.

Julie Lahman said she’d rather shop here than drive to Exit 7 or up I-81 to Marion. In addition to Lowe’s, she’d like to see a Tractor Supply Co., and a Cabela’s outfitter store.

Also on the way to the Exit 19 area are at least two residential developments, a new hospital and a recreation complex, all planned for nearby on U.S. Highway 11-Lee Highway.

"There’s not anything you can do to stop progress," said Lois Price, owner for 22 years of G&O Home Center, a small hardware store near the planned retail site. "I’ve said ever since we got in here this is a good location. With the hospital going in up the road and all the things that go in with the hospital, I’m sure this is going to be the next Exit 7."

Price said Lowe’s employees at Exit 7 sometimes send customers to her for items their store doesn’t carry, and while a closer Lowe’s would take potential customers, she doesn’t think it would be enough to put her out of business.

"I have repeat customers, and I give personal service," she said.

Century Village, Weston’s development, would have access to Exit 19 through the William A. Cole Industrial Park on Regal Drive. Weston said it would consist of more than 200 homes and be age-restricted for senior citizens.

Also near the interchange, developer Jimmy Stewart said in November that his development, Noah’s Point, would be closer to Exit 19 after he sold the project’s original site to the town and county for the recreation complex.

Stewart also said earlier the development would consist of between 200 and 250 condominiums and retirement villas.

"We hope to be able to start in the fall of [2008] as soon as we can get the land purchased," said Stewart, whose company also owns Promise Landing, an apartment complex near the recreation complex and hospital sites.

"I think the development of Washington County and Abingdon is going to be the Exit 19 area due to the infrastructure that’s there with water, sewer and gas," he said.

Less than a mile from the interchange, U.S. Highways 11 and 58 split, with a recently widened stretch of U.S. 58 heading toward Damascus and U.S. 11 continuing parallel to the Interstate toward Exit 22.

Despite talk of a recession, Weston predicts the five-lane stretch between Exit 19 and Watauga Road will see more development within the next three to five years.

"If there’s going to be a new commercial development [other than Wal-Mart] at one of the interchanges in Abingdon, that’s the only one it can be at," Weston said. "And that one does have the land and does have the infrastructure in place to support it, so that’s where the developers are going to be looking."

Weston said Exit 7’s success has proved that the demand exists for retail stores in Washington County, and he also expects future residential development adjoining his Century Village site.

The stretch of U.S. 11 between Exits 19 and 22 – which has visibility from both U.S. 11 and I-81 – also is expected to see more growth.

"With the hospital moving between Exits 22 and 19, I do see some substantial opportunities for development between those two exits," said Washington County Administrator Mark Reeter, who predicts that professional offices, retail and restaurants might follow the new hospital.

So far, he said, Lowe’s is the only retail chain he’s heard mentioned by name as eyeing the area.

Town Manager Greg Kelly said the county has communicated well with town officials about Lowe’s and planned residential development, which also straddles the town’s boundaries.

"They came to us just as soon as they knew that there was a possibility of this happening, and as it has moved a little bit forward, they kept me up to date on it," Kelly said. "I would hope that what I would call a good working relationship with the county would continue and get even better in the future."

Developers outside the area might also look favorably on Exit 19. Tim Scoggin, who’s been working for five years to build a Wal-Mart shopping center at Exit 14, said the only retail he’s heard about so far is Lowe’s, but he’s looked at doing additional projects in the region.

"The attention that Southwest Virginia is getting from retailers is, in my personal opinion, long overdue. It’s a very good market," Scoggin said. "It’s been out of the national spotlight for a long time, and all of a sudden the retailers are noticing it."

He said retail growth follows increasing residential population and increasing demand – trends occurring in Washington County.

"I think Exit 19 will work," Scoggin said. "Retail begets retail."

dmccown@bristolnews.com | (276) 791-0701