Richmond Heights City Council was recently given an update on the ongoing construction of Belle Oaks Marketplace, the half-billion-dollar development that is being constructed on the former site of Richmond Town Square mall. The process has been long, with Richmond Heights Council first passing a 30 -year tax abatement for the project in 2021. Dennis Nevar, a lawyer for DealPoint Merrill, came to City Council recently to give an update on the current status of Belle Oaks Marketplace and their lot split agreement. Dennis Nevar, a lawyer for DealPoint Merrill, is pictured on March. 11. (Frank Mecham- The News-Herald) During the meeting, he also commented that the Sears building was in its final stages of deconstruction, with only the foundation remaining. He added that the Meijer grocery store is planning to be open on May 8, and the leasing center to open at the end of April. “We are in the process of finalizing the Sears demolition; there is foundation work that needs to come out,” Nevar said. “The contractors are on site doing spot brushing, things in that nature.” Richmond Heights Council is pictured on March 11. (Frank Mecham- The News-Herald) He added that while the first part of their funding has been finalized they are still working on the funding process for the other buildings. “Building one, phase one, all of our private developing financing has been obtained… we are looking for a construction schedule to go vertical with these buildings, building one in approximately May this year. Buildings three then two, following approximately in two-month intervals after that.” Updates on the status of the project have been posted by the company at their website, belleoaksrichmond.com ...read more read less