Rowland
“Cleveland was reported recently as being No. 5 in total construction in the South,” according to longtime Cleveland Mayor Tom Rowland. “In fact, the Bank of Cleveland had this in their most recent ad in the Cleveland Daily Banner.”
Rowland, who is Tennessee’s longest-tenured mayor, said the majority of the $2,874,877 in building permits came in the commercial category.
“Permits in commercial building reflect retail renovations, restaurants and industrial expansions while the residential permits reflected two new single-family homes,” the mayor advised. “I am pleased with not only industrial construction, but commercial and residential as well.”
Rowland said Cleveland’s growth continues as a conversation piece across the state — and it’s not all just about new industries although Wacker Polysilicon North America, Whirlpool Cleveland Division, Amazon, Olin Chlor Alkali, Mars Chocolate and Arch Chemicals, among others, have captured much of the regional and national spotlight.
Locally, other sectors have regained their spring as evidenced in the restaurants, residential and lodging categories.
“It’s hard to believe the demand for apartments in realizing that the Retreat at Spring Creek has leased its entire 199 units and is already building some 130 more,” Rowland said. “We are getting a lot of retail brands we haven’t had before, as well as the new Holiday Inn Express on Paul Huff Parkway.”
More is coming.
“There is another hotel that may be announcing soon, but I will let them make that announcement,” he noted.
New eateries like Buffalo Wild Wings on Paul Huff Parkway and Olive Garden, at the corner of Huff and North Keith Street, continue to progress in their construction.
Asked about the potential future of Red Lobster in Cleveland, Rowland pointed out the Darden Group owns both Olive Garden and Red Lobster. Olive Garden is a reality, but speaking of the popular seafood eatery, he offered, “Red Lobster has been discussed; however, at this point I don’t believe it is on their near ‘radar.’”
Building permits, and their respective construction values, for the month of July included renovations at Walmart at 4495 Keith St., $1,168,777; Buffalo Wild Wings at 625 Paul Huff Parkway, $569,000, for a restaurant interior build-out; a water treatment building at the Duracell plant at 501 Mouse Creek Road, $300,000; an office building at 3575 Keith St. N.W. designed for accommodating a hyperbaric chamber, $250,000; and two single-family homes, $370,000.
Rowland said he continues to be encouraged by the cross-section of construction taking place throughout the city and in some portions of Bradley County.
