The owners of the former Kmart shopping center in Neptune Beach are asking the Beaches community for input as they redevelop the site.
TLM Realty, based out of New York, has owned the 17-acre property for more than 30 years, and Kmart, which closed in July, was there for almost 40.
“You’re thinking, ‘How do we look forward for the next 40 years and get, kind of, the right fit for the redevelopment?’” TLM Director of Design and Analytics Andrew Greene said.
The shopping center, on Atlantic Boulevard near Third Street, just welcomed a grocery store this week called Lucky’s.
Greene said that tenant is a good choice because the surrounding community is active and cares about health. He said Lucky’s has organic options and reasonable prices.
Now, TLM is in the listening phase when it comes the fate of the old Kmart.
Green has been meeting with city officials and getting emails from the community, and he said the feedback’s been pretty consistent.
“We’re hearing a lot of people say, ‘We love the community. We love the Beaches Town Center. We love the walkability. We love its, kind of, unique charm. We want to see that continue to grow, and we want to, kind of, expand on that,’” Greene said.
Greene says he welcomes ideas by email at agreene@tlmltd.com.
Reporter Lindsey Kilbride can be reached at lkilbride@wjct.org, 904-358-6359 or on Twitter at@lindskilbride.
