If you are local, you’ve likely noticed the recent progress to new commercial construction projects around town such as Chick-fil-A, Centricare, Denny’s, etc. But what about the coming Walmart Neighborhood Market? You’ve likely seen the sign up for months, but no signs of progress.
Walmart Neighborhood Markets similar to a conventional Walmart, except it is just a grocery store only. Other Neighborhood Markets can be seen throughout the county, such as in Holly Hill and Deltona. Since the announcement in 2015, the community is greatly anticipating the DeLand location that will be approximately one mile south of Downtown DeLand on Woodland Blvd., near the corner of Beresford Ave. The property is currently used to host a popular Saturday morning flea market.
Like many construction projects, there are hold ups that can be unforeseen. The issues with the Neighborhood Market involve traffic patterns and traffic congestion. Due to the heavy traffic on Woodland Blvd, the proposed store would likely cause a disruption in the traffic pattern. A traffic light may only cause more backups, so the developer, WRS Inc. of South Carolina, plans to construct a roundabout to alleviate the congestion concerns. According to a recent article in the West Volusia Beacon, the roundabout will also accommodate a historic tree that sits in the median, according to Kevin Rogers, development director at WRS. A second historic tree on the property will also be preserved if the roundabout is constructed, Rogers said. Site plans submitted to Volusia County also show a gasoline station with 12 fueling positions as part of the project.
So what does that mean for the timeline of the Walmart Neighborhood Market? Construction will not likely start until the roundabout is constructed, or at least approved. The next question is when will the roundabout construction begin? According to the West Volusia Beacon article, Rogers said once the permit process is complete and information is provided, including a traffic study, WRS expects construction on the roundabout to start soon thereafter.
Stay tuned to our blog for further construction updates.