Wheeler and Kettering hope the zoning change would attract more retailers to the near four acres of land.
Planning and Development Director Tom Robillard thinks the zoning change could help both the property owner and Kettering, opening up an area that was previously “limited” in it’s potential uses.
“I could see some small type business enterprises that aren’t necessarily office, or fit into the office category,” said Robillard. “Not sure what that might be, but he’s got some ideas on how he wants to market it to a more retail-type of business.”
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Originally, the building was a Top Value store, a stamp trading post where customers could trade in stamps for other goods. Wheeler wants to use the first floor of the building to bring retail back to the location and take advantage of the existing surrounding retail.
The area has several retailers located near the three-story building, including Elder Beerman, Sears and Kroger.
While there hasn’t been any discussions with potential retailers, the first floor could be used for more than just smaller retail fronts, according to Wheeler.
“With the zoning we could go retail or medical,” Wheeler said. “For example, a dialysis type group may want to come in and take the first floor suite, because it’s more ambulatory and they can get the signage they need for that type of use.”
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Wheeler envisions the building’s current and future occupants benefiting from any new businesses, regardless of their purposes. The potential for expanded uses was the first goal. Wheeler must now market his first floor to attract those retailers.
“This was really getting it back into a zoning to get it back to what it originally was and what the surrounding neighborhood is,” said Wheeler.
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