GREENFIELD — Nine months after representatives from T.J. Maxx filed plans to open a store in Greenfield, no development has begun, and city officials say they’re unsure if the project will move forward.
In June, city officials approved a proposal from the retailer to build a 20,000- square-foot store in Brandywine Plaza between McClarnon and Green Meadows drives. But city officials say company representatives have stopped communicating with them, so the city hasn’t been able to complete building review plans.
The company, which has more than 1,000 stores nationwide, offers brand-name clothing and home goods at 20 to 60 percent below department store prices, according to its website.
Developer John Zubak of SR 9 Development LP, who filed preliminary paperwork in the city planning department to secure needed permits for the new development, did not return calls for comment.
City planning director Joanie Fitzwater said the site needs utility improvements before construction can begin, a typical step to support large commercial projects, she said. The city contacted the developer to start that process in August; the developer confirmed receiving the notice but then never moved forward.
It’s unusual to see a delay this long, Fitzwater added.
Greenfield Mayor Chuck Fewell said he’s still hopeful the retailer will open in Greenfield in the future.
“This is a situation where we’ll wait and hope that it all falls into place at the right time,” Fewell said. “When they’re ready, we’ll do everything within reason that we can to assist them.”
Residents and city employees alike have cited concerns the deal with the retailer could go the way of Kohl’s, which delayed its construction plans for years before deciding on a scaled-down version of the store for its site in Greenfield; construction on the 35,000-square-foot store is set to begin March 1.
While Kohl’s — which announced its plans in January — would ostensibly compete for business with T.J. Maxx, Retta Livengood, president of the Greenfield Area Chamber of Commerce, said she thinks the community can support both retail chains.
“Because of the number of people in our community and the diversity of those folks, I think there’s certainly demand for more retail,” Livengood said, adding that many local shoppers drive out of the community to shop.
Currently, the closest T.J. Maxx stores to Greenfield are on East 82nd Street in Castleton and in Noblesville.
Officials with the T.J. Maxx corporate office could not be reached for comment.
