SIMPSONVILLE, KY. (WDRB) -- Monday night the public can get its first look at the plans for a new outlet mall in Shelby County. But as the company takes its pitch to the people, it turns out some neighbors are against it and there are several hurdles construction has to clear.
The weeds on Proctor Lane in Simpsonville stand as tall as the power lines above at the proposed site for the Outlet Shops of Louisville. It's a 355,000 square foot retail development off exit 28 on Interstate 64.
"We want to introduce ourselves to the community," says Thomas Rumptz, V.P. of Real Estate of Horizon Group Properties of Chicago. "Show them what our plans are and where things are going to be built and make sure everyone is comfortable."
Horizon is breaking its silence to calm public chatter. Many neighbors have questions and concerns and some have written into the Army Corps of Engineers to derail the project.
"I want progress definitely, but I'm concerned about my property values," says Simpsonville resident Don Barbour.
"I would like to see upscale stores," says Doris Barbour, another Simpsonville resident. "Because we have nothing around here. Here in Simpsonville we don't even have a grocery store."
Simpsonville resident Joe Scrogham says, "It butts up right against my property, so I'm not all opposed to it at all."
Veechdale Road just off I-64 has been the biggest concern for the people WDRB News spoke to. Under Horizon's plans, the road goes away. It then gets moved about 200 yards to the south and wraps around the perimeter of the proposed outlet mall. So people are concerned about how they get to their homes.
There is a rival outlet mall being planned by the Trio Development Group of Ohio just across I-64 from the Horizon site. Simpsonville has been eyed for an outlet mall because of its location between Louisville and Lexington and not far from Cincinnati.
City leaders say both companies have much more work to do. David Eaton, Simpsonville City Administrator, says, "What they have to do is go to zoning board first and then the zoning board makes a recommendation to city commission and then the commission will make the final decision on that zoning."
Rumptz of Horizon Group says, "Very few markets are going to support two outlet malls." Some feel Horizon's public meeting is an attempt to get a leg up on the competition. Horizon says their mall will bring 1000 jobs to the area, and retailers like Brooks Brothers, Gap, and Polo.
The meeting is scheduled for 6:00 Monday night at the Simpsonville city gym.
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