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1. The city is working on the environmental studies at the 5.6-acre former Kmart property to finalize a purchase agreement with Brandicorp, a Northern Kentucky based commercial real estate developer. City Council approved the sale in 2016 for $800,000.
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As part of the agreement, the city paid to demolish the old Kmart building and must handle the studies required by the Environmental Protection Agency, looking at past uses of the property and whether there are any contaminants in the soil.
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Xenia City Planner Brian Forschner said the hope is to see construction begin by next year. The plan is to put in casual-dining restaurants, one or two near Main Street, with a mix of retail or office space.
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"It's going to be more pedestrian friendly," Forschner said. "It's going to fit into the downtown fabric of Xenia. We expect it will be a catalyst for downtown, bringing in new traffic and attracting investment as well."
Part of the overall plan is to make downtown Xenia safer and more accessible to walkers, bicyclists and drivers. While one traffic light has been removed from West Main Street, a new light is planned to be installed at Galloway and Main streets.
"We're going to reintroduce a street grid, give it less of a seventies era strip center and try and make it feel like the rest of downtown," said Steve Brodsky, Xenia's development director.
2. It's happening at the corner of Progress and Hospitality drives. Construction is underway on two new 6,000-square-foot retail buildings, and the siding is going up soon next door on a new hotel, the Hampton Inn.
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Penn Station will be one of the storefronts in one of the new retail sites, and its parent company PS Dayton is the developer, according to city officials. The property is owned by Deck CD Holdings LLC. The buildings are slated to house a mix of food and retail.
The Hampton Inn and Suites is projected to open by the end of the year with 88 rooms. The hotel will offer amenities that American travelers will be accustomed to -- an indoor pool, conference space and lobby with an area for breakfast.
Forschner said the new hotel will give travelers the option of staying in the city and closer to events instead of staying at hotels in Beavercreek.
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"Xenia has a lot of visitors who come to the area," he said. "We have the bike trails, which bring in people from all over. We also have several universities nearby … This Hampton Inn is a way for people to stay local and generate a greater impact for our economy."
3. There are more homes planned at the Sterling Green subdivision off Bellbrook Avenue.
City Council has approved plans to build homes on nearly 80 lots for the new section dubbed Sterling Green Crossing. Mone Development has teamed up with Ryan Homes on the project, and the homes will be priced from about $150,000 to $200,000.
"More rooftops" is good for the city, Forschner said, because people want to work close to home and shop locally. An influx of people can lead to new retail and business activity.
"As the Beavercreek area gets more built out, Xenia has room to grow," Forschner said. "They are platting one section per year and [Sterling Homes] could be built out within the next five years. The builder and developer are already looking for new properties in Xenia for additional growth."
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