H.G. Hill property gets green light for possible Publix-anchored center

Stormwater Management Committee OKs concept for site of soon-to-close Belle Meade store; work on construction drawings and leasing can begin

Email | Print By Richard Lawson

07-06-2006 2:57 PM — H.G. Hill Realty got over one government hurdle today toward building a new shopping center, possibly to be anchored by a Publix supermarket, where the Belle Meade Hill's grocery now stands.

Metro Water Services' Stormwater Management Committee gave a conditional green light to building within the floodway and floodway buffer at the back of the property at 4340 Harding Road. The committee considered H.G Hill Realty's concept for the site if the existing building were demolished. On the plans H.G. Hill submitted to Metro Water, the grocery store would be 45,600 square feet. The plans also call for a single-story, 7,345-square-foot building and two other smaller buildings.

"We don't have any drawings yet," said Jimmy Granbery, CEO of H.G. Hill Realty. Granbery explained that he didn't want to proceed on construction drawings if he was going to get stopped at Stormwater Management and had to retain the current building.

"Now we can go into the next step or two," he said. The developer may have to go back to the Stormwater Management Committee with final drawings.

In addition to proceeding with construction drawings, Hill Realty can focus on leasing. The current H.G. Hill store is scheduled to close by July 29. A Publix there has been talked about for some time, and 45,600 square feet has been described as the grocery chain's "bread and butter" size of store.

Granbery wouldn't comment on whether or not Publix was the one. "There's so many fish in the sea," he said. "You can name them off that would love this location."

Others say, however, that a deal with Publix is near. Regardless of which grocery chain goes into the spot, it will make three in the area around the corner of Harding Road and Woodmont Boulevard. Kroger has long had a store at Belle Meade Plaza and recently completed renovations. And construction is expected to begin soon on the Harris Teeter-anchored Belle Meade Town Center, across Harding from the H.G. Hill's site, a project by developer Tony Giarratana in partnership with Brentwood-based PGM Properties LLC.

As to the timetable for completing construction, Granbery said: "We are pedaling as fast as we can."