Fairfield plaza getting facelift

Strip mall to look very different by year’s end

FAIRFIELD — Making over Fair Plaza started recently with razing part of the under-used strip plaza.

By year’s end, the area along Patterson Boulevard between Pleasant Avenue and River Road will have a retention pond, landscaping, a walking path and a fountain.

Fairfield Economic Development Manager Greg Kathman said the project is moving along as expected. Crews began preparing for the structure to come down in mid-August.

“By the end of (this) week, the building should be completely down,” Kathman said. “Once the buildings are down, they’re going to move on to some site work.”

Site work includes removing asphalt and concrete, digging the retention basin, and doing underground utility work.

The Fair Plaza redevelopment is a partnership with plaza owner Neyer Properties. The project will develop the plaza and the adjacent undeveloped land west of the property along Patterson. Office and retail spaces and a senior living facility are proposed.

Marsh, Dollar General, Partners in Prime, Gina’s Bar and Alpha and Omega Church will remain open during the renovation, Kathman said.

The redevelopment can only help the city, said John Prazynski, Hamilton-Fairfield-Oxford Board of Realtors president for 2009.

“Anytime you have development that is going to touch a segment of our society and do something new, that’s going to benefit everybody in the area,” said Prazynski, a real estate agent for Star One Realty.

Kathman said he anticipates the deconstruction and site work to be completed by late October or early November.

Contact this reporter at (513) 755-5112 or mpitman@coxohio.com.

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