Kohl's digging for October

In mid-January, the Kohl's site, left foreground, still had the look of a moonscape.
PHOTO BY HAWES SPENCER

Upscale discounter Kohl's appears to have broken ground on its planned Charlottesville store, as a bulldozer could be seen turning earth on the site Friday, April 2, near the sign that's been stuck in the moonscape of Hollymead Town Center and still announcing an October opening date. A source at the site says the company, whose spokespeople could not immediately be reached, is still shooting for an October opening.

Wendell Wood, who developed Hollymead Town Center, owned the parcel for about 40 years, sold it "four or five years ago" to HM Acquisition Group, he says, and came back into possession of the land last September, a $19.6 million deal, according to county property transfer records.

Wood declines to call it a foreclosure–- although Albemarle County property records note the deed is "in lieu of foreclosure."

"We had a friendly arrangement, and I got the property back," says Wood, who had financed the deal.

Besides Kohl's, the new shopping center will include residential units and offices, as well as "possibly a theater, possibly a hotel," says Wood.

Kohl's will rise pretty quickly, predicts Wood. "You'll probably see something under roof in 60 days."

–last updated 3:45pm Monday, April 5, with additional reporting by Lisa Provence