After 13 years, the mixed-use development at the corner of Hydraulic Road and US Rte. 29—formerly Albemarle Place, now The Shops at Stonefield—finally broke ground today. Albemarle County Supervisor Dennis Rooker told onlookers and media that he was "extremely pleased" to see the project move ahead, in part because Stonefield "was the first Neighborhood Model development of large scale that was approved in the county."
More after the photo.
County officials and Edens&Avant staff officially break ground on the first Neighborhood Model development approved in Albemarle County.
In 2001, Albemarle County approved the rezoning for this project. Despite an economic recession and ownership changes, said Rooker, "we ended up getting a terrific partner and owner in Edens&Avant."
The Shops at Stonefield will be constructed in two phases. In all, the development will feature about 1.2 million square feet of retail, commercial, hotel and residential space.
A glimpse of what the new, 1.2 million-square-foot development will look like.
“We truly hope that this center is reflective and connective in terms of style, merchandising mix and overall design,” said Terry Brown, Edens&Avant CEO. “We believe Stonefield will represent a totally new and dynamic shopping experience, enterntainment and residential district right in the heart of the Charlottesville community.”
Already dubbed the “Napa of the East Coast,” according to the developer’s website, the Shops will feature a 135-room Hyatt Place hotel, a Trader Joe’s (expected to draw about 625,000 customers annually), a 14-screen Regal Cinema with stadium seating and IMAX capabilities (expected to draw about 700,000 customers annually) and restaurants including Osaka Sushi and Travinia Italian Kitchen.
In addition to 1,700 construction jobs, the development will generate about 700 new jobs in retail and hotel management. The first phase of the development is expected to be completed by October 2012, with the grand opening slated for November 1 that year.
Crews working to clear the land.