Plans in works for Beachcliff, Rockport
By Ben Saylor
Rocky River
Published Jan. 30, 2008

Residents could be seeing changes at both Beachcliff Market Square and Rockport Shopping Center in the near future.

Economic and Community Development Director Kory Koran reported on both plazas during an economic and community development update to City Council Jan. 22.

Koran said that approximately 10 individuals from Madison Marquette, the developer of Beachcliff Market Square, flew in to visit the center on Jan. 17.

Beachcliff tenants Liberty Books and News, Chico’s, and White House/Black Market all recently closed. While Koran said that it was known that the Liberty company went out of business several months ago, the closure of clothing retailers Chico’s and White House/Black Market “took everyone by surprise,” including, he said, management at both locations. Koran said the decision to close those stores was a corporate one.

“The corporate owners felt that the sales were taking away from their Crocker Park stores,” Koran said. Both Chico’s and White House/Black Market have locations at Crocker Park.

Madison Marquette is taking immediate action regarding the square, Koran said.

“What they have immediately authorized is to build out all the empty storefronts that are there,” Koran said. The result, he said, will “change the look of the entire center.”

“Their overall impression of the center is that it needs quite a bit of improvement as far as aesthetics,” Koran added. “They’re looking at a way to increase the street presence, the visibility of Beachcliff.” Koran said Madison Marquette doesn’t like that the new building at Beachcliff is so low compared to the street, and that they have hired an architectural firm to try and raise of the façade of the building.

The two biggest obstacles at Beachcliff, however, are parking and signage, Koran said. Businesses such as Tomorrows - a hair salon and Pearl of the Orient are difficult to see from Detroit Road, Koran said. To this end, Koran said Madison Marquette is preparing a sign package to present to the city.

Parking is a “huge problem” at the square, Koran said.

“Even with the three stores closed, it’s very difficult to find a parking place at Beachcliff Market Square,” Koran said. He added that the lack of parking spaces is discouraging potential tenants from the square.

To this end, Koran said Madison Marquette will be immediately paving the old Taylor Motors site. In addition, the company has “tentatively agreed” to share parking with the nearby Rocky River United Methodist Church. The company is also “reinvigorating the acquisition of adjacent properties to create more areas for parking,” Koran said.

Koran also said that National City Bank is moving its branch farther down Detroit Road in part of the space currently occupied by Hollywood Video.

“They’re [Madison Marquette] very excited about reworking where that exit drive through is,” Koran said. “That has been kind of a sore spot with them.”

Koran said Madison Marquette plans to have the square focus on women’s services, pointing out that many of its current tenants already cater to women. Overall, he said that the company is “very unhappy with the way the center has turned out.”

Of the 100,000 sq. ft. of space at Beachcliff, 40,000 is currently vacant. The square will be getting a new tenant in Massage Envy. Koran said Madison Marquette has other potential tenants looking at the property but could not divulge what they were.

Koran also reported on the status of Rockport Shopping Center. He said that Goodman Real Estate Services is working on a plan for the center. The preliminary design Goodman has for Rockport can be found at http://www.goodmanrealestate.com/property.asp?idProperty=122. The space where Target formerly sat will hold five 25-30,000 sq. ft. businesses, Koran said. All of the buildings to the east of the former Target will be demolished.

“What’s I think the most important and significant thing is that this is a Goodman Real Estate venture,” Koran told council. “They’re very well respected. They’ve done many projects.” Avon Commons is a Goodman project. Koran said that there are tenants looking at Rockport but that he could not divulge what they are, although he did say that one of them is a grocery store.

“I’m very optimistic that at least two or three of these tenants will land at Rockport, and we’ll start to see demolition very soon,” Koran said.