What's Up at the New Giant Eagle Site?

It's quiet at the site of Giant Eagle's new Market District store on Pearl Road -- too quiet for a business that's supposed to open in early 2014.

Site work on the parcel -- including driveways, parking lot, light poles and a wall to buffer adjacent residents -- has wrapped up. 

But construction of the building itself has yet to start.

Strongsville officials say they're in the dark.

"They haven't submitted anything new," said Carol Oprea, planning secretary for Strongsville. "Until they contact us or submit plans, we don't know what's going on there."

Giant Eagle offered this statement on the situation:

"The construction of any Market District location is a dynamic process. We continue to work closely with local officials on our plans to make the store a world class shopping experience for area residents, and look forward to beginning building construction later this year, with the store’s opening in 2014," said Daniel Donovan, Giant Eagle spokesman.

Rumors are swirling about the hold-up, including that Giant Eagle wants to tweak the plans for the 110,000-square-foot store, which would mean another round of city approvals before construction would start.

Company representatives said in March that construction was on track and that the new store would likely be open by early 2014.

Officials have said it takes six to nine months to build a Market District store, so an opening in mid- to late-2014 seems more likely now.

Market Districts are larger, more upscale versions of Giant Eagle stores that include a restaurant, a wide array of prepared foods and specialty departments including cheese, bakery and meats.

Strongsville voters agreed in March 2012 to rezone a portion of the Strongsville Golf property for the store.