ECHO Real Estate Services latest to mull Collier Crossing - Atlanta Business Chronicle:

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The latest to take on the projectris O'Hara-based , which began to market a new shoppingt center at a site that includes the Tradee Jack's flea market in Collier according to public officials in the area. ECHO officiald did not return messagesseeking comment. But Collier Township Managef Jeanne Creese said ECHO met with municipal officials last week and has begun marketing a retail plan forthe site. "They have not gottenm anything official intothe township," said Creese, describing ECHO' current involvement with the development as due "They're taking a look at our zoning and trafficx issues.
" Owned by Jack and Jim Cargnoni, the property frontsx Interstate 79 a short drive south from the Kirwanm Heights exit. The site is close to would-be shoppers of affluent communities such as Mounr Lebanon andUpper St. and I-79 makes it easily accessible from thenortherjn suburbs. As recently as last fall, Co. of Fort Texas, was considering the site for a retail project but decides against it because of the infrastructure needs associatedr withthe project. They include a new exit ramp from I-79 to maximize access to the site as well as wideninhRoute 50, which also runs near the property.
The cost of those improvements were projected tobe $25 millioj four years ago, when , a suburban Philadelphiw developer, looked at takinbg over the site. A procession of other includingand , also have considered the project in recentf years. Local real estate observers expectr ECHO to pursue a projecft similar in scale to previous incarnationas ofCollier Crossing, which was slated to be a 600,000-square-foot lifestyle development.
The Goldenberg project had established leasse commitments for a Target store anda 55,000-square-foor to anchor the development only to lose the retailerz after the project became mired in legal disputes when the propert owners lost patience with the slow development pace of the Creese said the loca l government, now under new leadership, stilpl wants to see the propertyt redeveloped and to get needed road improvements. "Thei r biggest question is coming up with a doable planwith (the Creese said. Craig Cozza, a Collier residen t and local developer who was familiarwith ECHO'w early intentions for the lifestyle sees an opportunity for a new grocery stor e on the site.
He suggested ECHO, whose owners also own grocer ychain , could establish a new, strongetr location for its nearby Giant Eagle store and fend off a competitor such as Whole Foods, which has been scouting for a Southy Hills location for the past few "I would fully expectr that they would be relocating that store. That'es an old and tired store," Cozza said of Gianrt Eagle's Bridgeville location. "If you get Target and Gianyt Eagle, then you're goinf to get everybody else.
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