Changes in appearance and content are coming soon to Paris Towne Center.
At its regular meeting Monday, the Paris City Council approved an amended site plan at the shopping center, which will allow for parking lot changes and improvements to help one already announced new store and other changes in anticipation of three new restaurants.
Recently, developers announced the addition of Rue 21, which will occupy the previous Social Security building at the far east end of the shopping center near Belk.
According to Paris Director of Engineering Shawn Napier, work could begin as early as today on phase two of a three-phase project that began by attracting Rue 21. Project architect David Denny said phase two includes changes to the driveway near the new Rue 21 store and extensive parking lot improvements that include repaving and new lighting.
Phase three will be the addition of a new building on the east property line, with the back of the building against the loop. That building has the potential for five tenants, according to Denny, and three have committed that will occupy the entire building.
Those three, according to Napier, include:
•Wingstop: a Texas-based chicken wing restaurant that has established franchises throughout the southeast.
•TCBY: A nationwide frozen yogurt chain.
•Jersey Mike's: A northeast-style sub chain with stores in more than 25 states.
Napier believes work could begin on the new building by the end of October.
Also on Monday, the council gave the go-ahead for Interim City Manager Gene Anderson to work toward renovating the old council chambers at City Hall.
Several decades ago, according to Anderson, windows were taken out and covered with sheet rock, and the room has seen little use. He wants to restore the windows and renovate the room into a conference room or a public meeting room.
Anderson said $19,000 remains from a previous bond issues that has to be used for city hall renovations.
The council spent 10 minutes in executive session discussing the annual evaluation of Anderson, City Attorney Kent McIlyar and the municipal court judge, along with city manager applicants.
The council announced a Friday meeting at 2:30 at City Hall. The agenda calls for an executive session to interview city manager applicants.