Construction will begin again at Courthouse Commons on Monticello Avenue within a few months to construct the remaining two buildings from the original master site plan.
The Courthouse Commons shopping center, which the Board of Supervisors approved through a special use permit in 2010, is broken down into five parcels, three of which have been built. The remaining two parcels will include a building with three retail spaces and two restaurant spaces and a building for Monarch Bank.
Groundbreaking is expected to begin within the next few months, said Chris Henderson, a part owner and partner in developing Courthouse Commons and senior vice president at CB Richard Ellis of Virginia Inc. and director of the Peninsula office, the group responsible for leasing the spaces at Courthouse Commons.
New Town Six LLC owns the property where Courthouse Commons stands, but will sell one parcel to Monarch Bank for its building. Monarch Bank will be responsible for constructing the building, which will be its first Williamsburg location.
Site plans for both parcels have been submitted to the county for approval, but the master site plan has already been approved. The New Town Design Review Board, which is the group of architects and landscape professionals in charge of approving any new development in New Town, approved the building architecture and did not have any suggestions for the property, Henderson said.
The shopping center will be able to house 21 businesses once it is completed.
A majority of the existing retail and restaurant spaces at Courthouse Commons have been filled. Of the current 15 spaces, 13 have been filled. The remaining two are under negotiations.
“I think Courthouse Commons fills a certain void in the market for retailers that were looking for a more traditional layout with parking in front and visibility from Monticello that was not otherwise being provided by New Town,” Henderson said. “We’re seeing the value of our space being reflected in the rents because we’re obtaining higher rents than anybody else in the market so I think that’s also a positive sign.”
Several businesses at Courthouse Commons were new to the Williamsburg area, including Sticks Kebob Shop, Honeybee Frozen Yogurt, Great Clips, Imperial Olive Tasting Room, Style by Design, Courthouse Cleaners and Williamsburg Center for Dental Health.
In addition to the new businesses, several Historic Triangle businesses relocated to the shopping center: Bed Crafters by Michelle, Starbucks, The Fresh Market, Kingsmill Jewelers, Atir Natural Nail Care Clinic and LONDONS.
