City Council Begins Deliberations On New Giant Eagle

The Solon City Council will be moving quickly to approve plans for a new and redesigned Solar Shopping Center, but council members stressed that they would give the project a thorough review.

Vice Mayor Ed Kraus said the council will likely review the project three times: The initial review on Monday, a second round of discussions on March 19 and then the final review April 2, when a vote is expected.

Developer Echo Solon is looking to redesign the Solar Shopping Center at the intersection of SOM Center and Aurora roads. The plan is to build a new, freestanding 92,000 square-foot Giant Eagle with an accompanying Getgo gas station. The developer also plans to redevelop or build new space for retail tenants.

Echo Solon must receive city approval by April 12 to be able to purchase the property from the center's current owners.

"This is a long-term investment," said Phil Bishop with Echo Solon. "We’re here to stay, we’re excited we’ve come this far. We can see the finish line."

The Solon Planning Commission despite not having everything ironed out with the developer, Echo Solon. Instead, the planning commission attached a number of conditions to the project, including details pertaining to landscaping, pedestrian access, stormwater and signage.

If Echo Solon obtains city approval by its April 12 deadline, work is expected to begin almost immediately, working around some existing tenants and leaving the existing Giant Eagle operational while the new store is built.

The new Giant Eagle is expected to be with the retail center finished by November 2013. Bishop said the existing Giant Eagle will remain open while the new store is built.

The commission has been considering the project for the last month, going over traffic studies, landscape plans and considering a slew of variances developer Echo Solon needs before it can build.

The Solar Shopping Center sits in the middle of town at the SOM Center and Aurora roads intersection.

Echo Solon, a local arm of Echo Realty, wants to build a new, freestanding 92,000 square foot Giant Eagle, a new GetGo station and redesign the rest of the plaza.

Solon officials are supporting the project, calling it the first major upgrade of a shopping plaza in Solon history and a key part of the city master plan.

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