NORMAL - New shopping and eating options could be available at Constitution Trail Centre in north Normal by spring, the same time work is expected to begin on a planned 14-screen cinema and 86-room hotel.

Busey Bank also has purchased about 1.25 acres of the property for a future bank branch.

"I think once the hotel starts construction the community will see the dimension of the development," said Darren Hicks, a principal for project managers DKC Development Ventures.

That dimension will grow even more when the second phase of the project north of Schnucks Marketplace begins after work on the hotel and theater starts

"We're working hard on that," Hicks said. "It will be significant."

He would not comment on possible tenants but said announcements could come the first quarter of next year.

Winter prep work

Meanwhile, crews are concentrating on enclosing the buildings at Main Street and Raab Road and just east of the Bradford Lane extension so tenants can begin their build-outs, he said. Once DKC turns over space to tenants, they typically open about six weeks later.

Moe's Southwest Grill, American General Finance and Verizon Wireless dealer Barbeck Communications will be located in the building off Bradford. Moe's has already gotten a building permit from Normal and the others are in the process, said Scot Williams, assistant director of the inspections department.

Hicks said a deal with Applebee's, which also would locate in the building, is in a holding pattern because Applebee's was in the midst of an acquisition by IHOP. That deal was completed Friday, he said.

The building at Main and Raab will include Starbucks, Super Gyro's and U.S. Cellular. Williams said each has a building permit. Other tenants will include Great Clips, Subway and H&R Block.

The Busey Bank property is north of that building. Dave Wampler, regional president for Busey Bank in McLean County, said plans are to build a branch similar to the one on Fort Jesse Road - about 2,500 square feet and three drive-up lanes.

It will be Busey's eighth banking branch in Bloomington-Normal. The bank also has a trust and securities facility on Eastland Drive. Wampler said a construction start date has yet to be determined.

Project changes

Further north, a Taco Bell has taken a spot originally planned for a McAlister's Deli.

McAlister's franchisee Kyle Brechtel said work at the center was not progressing as fast as he had hoped, so he started looking at other Twin City locations for the deli. Bone Student Center is home to the only McAlister's in the Twin Cities.

"We still have that site (at Constitution Trail Centre) on our radar," Brechtel said. "We're definitely coming to (the Twin Cities)."

Work could start this spring on the AmericInn at the northwest corner of the center. John Kennedy, senior vice president for development for AmericInn International, said that project is going through financing right now.

"It will be a high-caliber product for the community," Kennedy said.

A planned indoor-outdoor water slide has been scrapped but some type of water slide still is being considered, he said. Kennedy said construction will take about six months.

Two buildings south of Schnucks are already enclosed and nearly ready for tenant build-outs. Tenants include Rosati's Pizza, Sprint, Planet Beach Tanning Spa and Dollar Tree.

The 14-screen Starplex Cinemas will be built on the northeast portion of the 76-acre center. Starplex Chief Executive Officer Steve Holmes said pre-cast concrete walls will be used to speed up the building process.

"We're excited about getting it done," Holmes said. "Our goal is to open in summer - July."

The center also has additional road work on the horizon. Normal engineer Gene Brown said DKC still has to widen the Main and Raab intersection and install new signals, widen and add lights at School and Raab and install permanent signals at Raab and Bradford.

Hicks said that work will get started when the weather breaks this spring.