At a place called McComb Crossing, acres of red dirt are being moved around at the intersection of Interstate 55 and Presley Boulevard, where crews are making road beds and foundations for businesses on the way, as well as lots for more commerce that could transform the city’s southern end.
Three forthcoming businesses have hooked into city utilities and begun construction in the area — an assisted living center called The Claiborne McComb and Exxon and Market Max convenience stores. Not hooked in, however, is the acreage for the much-anticipated movie theater run by B&B Theaters, plans for which were announced last year.
The property, located in a triangular area between I-55, Presley Boulevard and Old Liberty Road, is owned by RBR Land Co. of Madisonville, La., which is the company developing the assisted living center and theater.
Plans on file with the city’s zoning department give an outline of what the complex could look like.
The development has 17 plots of land ranging in size from a half-acre to about 5 acres parceled out for sale. The assisted living center will sit on a 9-acre tract at the center of it all, flanked to the west by the movie theater, which will consume 7 acres.
“All new construction in the city has to have designs go before the architectural board,” said city zoning department director Walter Temple.
The development will come off of a road directly across from another road leading to cleared land on the north side of Presley Boulevard, with traffic serviced by two roads ending in cul-de-sacs.
A map of the development also shows land graded for drainage and runoff.
“The developers are responsible for the road and drainage ditches. They build and install water and sewer that is designed to city standards,” Temple said.
Although the movie theater isn’t as far along as other developments, B&B Theaters has plans that are being approved and is going through the steps to start construction, Temple said. The dirt work in preparation for the foundation has begun, he said.
Along with the new commerce, another coming change involves the southbound exit of the interstate.
“The off-ramp from I-55 north will change from a loop to a two-laned approach like the (south) side, where there are two lanes that come to a traffic signal,” Temple said.
City officials have said the idea behind changing the exit ramp is to slow traffic down so it won’t pass up the new businesses.
Temple said Market Max could be open by mid-July, and the assisted living center by the end of 2016.
While the success of future development remains to be seen, Temple said the lots for sale come with the bonus of a certain amount of foundational work already in place.
Temple said there is much interest in the other lots, and people will soon start seeing businesses popping up at McComb Crossing.
In the meantime, shoppers and movie-goers must be patient.
“The thing is they can’t get too ahead of the game,” Temple said. “They have to have the city’s approval at every step.”
