The construction of a $5.6 million stretch of road bypassing downtown Lebanon is spurring commercial development.
The Lebanon Planning Commission reviewed plans on Tuesday for a five-building, 10-acre development on the northwest corner of Neil Armstrong Way and West Main Street.
The development would be diagonally across the intersection from a car-sales lot in the planning stages on the southeast corner.
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Both plans have been brought forward since completion in 2014 of the section of Neil Armstrong Way from Ohio 123 to Main Street.
Developer Larry Buchanan submitted preliminary plans for the commercial development and a rezoning request in anticipation of construction of a BP gasoline station and convenience store.
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Buchanan said he hoped to break ground in May on the interior roads, while the BP project was also under construction.
BP could be in business there in August or September.
Next, Buchanan said he anticipated development of a restaurant or microbrewery with 100 parking spaces at the “hot corner” created by the new intersection.
“That would be a fantastic location,” he said before the planning meeting.
The Fig Leaf microbrewery had looked at this location before opening on Cincinnati-Dayton Road, south of Middletown, Buchanan said.
The next phase at the corner is to include a 30,000 square foot strip center at the back of the property and two out-lots on Main Street.
This could be completed in 2018, Buchanan said.
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In downtown, the Broadway Barrel House is the name of the new business opening in the remodeled building that previously housed Mio’s, a pizza and Italian restaurant for years.
Over the holiday weekend, a message announcing, “Now Hiring” replaced “Stay Tuned…” on the marquee of the sign for the building, just north of the city’s historic downtown and across Broadway from Berry Middle School.
In March 2015, the renovations were to begin and the reopening was expected later that year.
On Tuesday, workers continued with remodeling, including new windows and interior and exterior renovations, begun last year.