Former Avon Products center in Springdale being redeveloped

A highly visible 1.1 million-square-foot office and industrial site in Springdale, once filled by Avon Products Inc., is being redeveloped for multiple tenants, including not only the remaining Avon workers still there, but also another retailer on the hunt for area office space: Macy’s.

Before Macy's made headlines this week about its cost-cutting moves, the company had selected the Springdale location seen from Interstate 275 to move office workers needing to relocate, said Christine Russell, Springdale's economic development director.

Heavy equipment that highway motorists have seen at the building, now called Progress Park, has been used to construct additional parking and new entrances to make room for more than one business, Russell said.

Springdale City Council in October approved financial incentives for Macy’s to fill about 110,000 square feet in the building. The company committed to relocating about 150 workers at the time as part of the contract, Russell said.

“We were told they were evaluating moving additional employees,” Russell said.

There is still “plenty” of additional space in the building available for lease.

“As you can imagine, the loss of Avon was a big hit to us,” she said. “We’re very excited to have Macy’s coming, bring back additional life to that building … and honestly bringing a different use.”

“They’re not only bringing employees, but they’re bringing more employees on a square foot basis than were there before,” she said.

Avon announced in 2009 plans to close a manufacturing site and return goods operation in Springdale by mid-2012. A customer service call center continues to work out of the Cincinnati region location, according to the company.

On Wednesday, Cincinnati-based Macy's detailed cost-cutting plans that include closing 40 stores nationwide. No Cincinnati area stores were part of the announcement, although, the retailer does plan three to four layoffs on average at each brick-and-mortar location.

The reductions could also mean more jobs in the region. Plans to close a credit and customer services center in St. Louis could lead work to be divided among three other call center locations, including one at Governor’s Pointe Office Park in Deerfield Twp. near Mason, which stands to add more jobs as a result. While a total 750 jobs will be cut in St. Louis, approximately 640 jobs could be added at the remaining call center locations in Warren County; Tempe, Ariz.; and Clearwater, Fla., according to Macy’s.

A Macy’s spokesman could not be reached for comment about Springdale or Deerfield Twp. offices.

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