Major mall in works?

By Karen Middleton
karen@athensnews-courier.com

March 13, 2008 10:41 pm

— A major project, possibly a shopping center that could include a Bass Pro Shop, is in the works for Decatur-annexed portions of south Limestone County, but officials are remaining mum—until Monday.
Decatur attorney Barney Lovelace, who represents the landowner, said Thursday a confidentiality agreement prevented him from discussing the project before Monday.
Athens Electric Department Manager Gary Scroggins spent Wednesday afternoon meeting with Decatur officials to discuss energy needs in Decatur-annexed areas.
“We actually met on several subjects having to do with our capacity and serving that area,” Scroggins said. “I don’t believe they are ready to announce the project.”
“It’s pretty big and we have to consider the whole area if we need to build a new substation—we have to know if we can carry the power load,” said Athens City Councilman Ronnie Marks.
One Athens city official, who asked to remain anonymous, said he heard that Bass Pro Shops was among those considering the site. The company bills itself as the “world’s leading supplier of premium outdoor gear” for fishing, hunting, camping, golfing and marine activities. It also sells electronics, apparel, footwear, gifts and home items.
There are Bass Pro Shops in 26 states, including Prattville and a location announced for Spanish Fort in December. There is also a store in Toronto, Canada.
Decatur Mayor Don Kyle did not return multiple telephone messages Thursday.
One Decatur city councilman said, “Everyone connected with the city had to sign a confidentiality agreement.”
John Seymour, president and chief executive officer of the Decatur-Morgan County Chamber of Commerce, said there is “no kind of agreement.”
“I know we’ve had conversations with a lot of different retailers, but there’s nothing official,” Seymour said. “There’s just nothing to comment on.”
Exactly four years ago, developer Michael Belew pulled the plug on a proposed retail center in the Alabama 20 corridor because he couldn’t get infrastructure funding. Plans were for a $450 million shopping center that was projected to generate 5,000 jobs and $9 million in annual sales-tax revenue and another $2.2 million in property tax revenue.
Belew, the managing partner of the Burnham Group LLC of Kansas City, said the proposed Tennessee Valley Crossing project was dead in March 2004 because an incentive package for infrastructure did not come about.
The incentive package would have earmarked sales-tax revenues to pay off a bond issue for infrastructure construction. The measure initially failed to gain the necessary unanimous support of the Decatur City Council, so developers brought the package to the Limestone County Commission, hoping to gain support for incentive legislation.
However, a resolution of support was never included on the commission agenda and the developer began to look elsewhere.