Jim Cheney is hoping to end the year with a bang.
Or at least a boom. The boom of construction vehicles on the move, that is.
If all goes according to plan, two to three new buildings could be under construction before Jan. 1 at Cambridge Square, the new mixed-use development at the corner of Old Lee Highway and Ooltewah-Ringgold Road.
"We're in as good of a place as we could possibly be," said Cheney, marketing director for Cambridge Square. "It's been a real reward to watch this project go from dirt to the traffic we're seeing now."
Currently, the development is home to seven local businesses: BeYoga, Lupi's Pizza Pies, Morning Pointe/IHP, Southern Burger Co., Tedford Dentistry, Sales and Leasing Office and Wired Coffee. With only one available space left in the existing building, Cheney said new construction is inevitable as new businesses continue to express interest and Tedford's location requires its own build-out.
Additionally, another 12 potential clients are in the process of purchasing space or negotiating leases, said Cheney. Of the 12 negotiating, there are several medical and office uses, approximately five dining options, a craft beer provider and a couple of retailers.
"Nobody needs to be convinced Ooltewah is the high-growth area in Hamilton County and the region," Cheney said. "Our goal is to get this location firmly established so we're capturing the market from Cleveland to Hamilton Place."
Through the summer and fall months, the development has hosted a variety of events, from outdoor yoga classes to movie series and fall festivals. Those events have helped bring in business for existing tenants, showcase the possibilities for potential tenants and encourage the community to embrace Cambridge Square, Cheney explained.
"The restaurants have been doing really good business," he said. "I think they've been very pleased with what's going on."