Renovations have begun on the 140 Village Shopping Center in Westminster, with an eye toward bringing the aging center more in line with newer locations coming into the market and to attract new tenants and customers.
The $1.5 million project, slated for completion in the fall, is the first major renovation of the center since it was built in the 1970s.
“This shopping center is probably one the older shopping centers of this size in Westminster,” said Robert G. Pollokoff, president of The Fedder Co., the property manager and development agent of the center. “In order to compete with a lot of the new centers coming in, it needed a face-lift ? to attract the retailers coming into the Westminster market.”
Pollokoff said the center is about 98 percent leased, but it could see vacancies as leases run out. He said he hopes the updated facility will attract new high-end tenants that will complement the center?s existing anchors.
“With other shopping centers in the market, everyone wants to go to the newest and brightest center,” Pollokoff said. “We needed to make the center new and exciting for our tenants and customers.”
The renovations to the 217,306-square-foot center, located at Routes 140 and 97, include new arched facades designed to make store entrances more prominent. Additionally, canopies and columns will be added to enhance roof lines and create a more unified experience for pedestrians. Throughout the center, sidewalks will be replaced and decorative lighting under the canopies will be placed to create an overall brighter and more inviting atmosphere, Pollokoff said.
“Basically, it?s bringing it up to date with current materials and colors and giving it a fresh look,” said Fred Melby, president of Baltimore-based Mainstreet Design Group, the center?s architect. “A lot of these old centers are tired-looking, and the colors and materials they used are out of date. When you renovate a center like this, traffic increases because there is a better feel to the place.”
The center is owned by 140 Village LLP, which is putting up the money for the project. Its major tenants include Shoppers Food Warehouse, Big Lots, Rite Aid, Firestone and Liberatore?s restaurant.
