Project Type
Retail Redevelopment |
Entitlement Process
2.5+ years |
TOTAL INVESTMENT
$75 Million |
Approach
Phased demo & rebuild |
Hunter’s Square had grown over the decades through a series of piecemeal additions (small expansions tacked on without cohesive planning), creating an awkward, inefficient footprint that no longer met the expectations of today’s national retail tenants or shoppers. Storefronts were set back from sight lines, small shop spaces curved around irregular bends, and the overall layout lacked the standardized depths and clear sightlines that modern retailers require.
A significant portion of the center had fallen into vacancy and disrepair, yet the site carried strong nostalgic value for the surrounding community making the case for change both commercially urgent and politically sensitive.
| “Change is difficult. The city and community ultimately knew they would benefit from a new roster of tenants but getting there required patience, persistence, and a clear vision.” -Frank Jarbou |
Rather than a full demolition, Symmetry devised a surgical redevelopment strategy: keep the viable portion of the center open and operating while demolishing the dilapidated and vacant side entirely, then rebuilding from the ground up to current retail standards. The result is one contiguous, properly configured retail environment with uniform depths, clear entries, and standardized storefronts that will replace the disjointed patchwork that has accumulated over decades.
Securing city approval was the most arduous chapter of the project. The entitlement process spanned more than two and a half years and required over a dozen meetings with the city. The primary obstacle was not opposition to retail development per se, but the emotional weight attached to what was being removed: long-standing businesses and spaces that held genuine sentimental value in the community.
Symmetry’s approach was to stay the course aligning the redevelopment vision with the city’s own master plan and demonstrating, meeting by meeting, that the proposed tenant mix and rebuilt environment would deliver lasting community benefit. Ultimately, the city came on board, and site plan approval was secured.
The redevelopment attracted a mix of national anchors, soft goods retailers, and food & beverage concepts bringing new energy and foot traffic to a center that had been in decline. Several existing tenants were successfully relocated within the center as part of the rebuild.
New Tenants |
Relocated Tenants |
Existing Tenants |
| Meijer | Five Below | TJ Maxx |
| Total Wine & More | Buffalo Wild Wings | Old Navy |
| Nordstrom Rack | Mattress Firm | Dollar Store |
| RH Outlet | Ulta | |
| First Watch | ||
| Cava |
With vertical construction now underway, Hunter Square is being transformed from a dated, partially vacant center into a modern retail destination anchored by nationally recognized brands. The phased approach preserved the center’s commercial continuity while enabling a ground-up rebuild which is a testament to Symmetry’s ability to execute complex, community-sensitive redevelopments that other developers pass over.
