‘Major’ retailer headed to town

What had looked to be a “white elephant” for the City of Rockdale has apparently turned into a triumph for the town and its residents.

City council members on Monday sold the six-acre site at 1166 West US 79 which was purchased three years ago to become the home of Rockdale’s new police department.

Instead it is targeted to become the site for a “major” retail business, plus three or four additional stores, according to the Tennessee real estate developer which submitted the bid.

DRIVE-BY—Chip Davis, development manager for Horne Properties, a real estate development and management company based in Knoxville, Tennessee, told The Reporter he was literally driving through Rockdale several weeks ago when the “For Sale” sign at the property caught his eye.

Davis said he was searching for property for a “major” retail tenant.

The developer got in touch with City Manager Chris Whittaker and submitted a bid of $250,000.

That’s the price the city paid for the land in March, 2016, when it was purchased as the site for the new police department.

Considerable public pushback over price and location resulted in the city choosing to place the police station at a different site, the corner of Green and Ackerman. The city had stipulated it would not sell the West Cameron property for any sum less than $250,000.

CONFIDENTIALITY—Davis said he had signed a confidentiality agreement with the tenant and could not yet reveal the identity.

“They will be in Rockdale pretty shortly to tour the property,” he said. “This will be a very beneficial development both for this community and for the tenant.”

Davis said other stores are envisioned. “We are anticipating a good mix of retail businesses.”

“We’re delighted to be in a smaller town, working with such friendly people,” Davis said.

He said more details, including the tenant’s identity will be forthcoming as the project’s preliminary phases unfold.

Horne Properties has developed over 100 properties in the eastern two-thirds of the nation including several in Texas. Closest is in Temple. Horne also developed a property in Jacksonville.