In a special meeting on Thursday night, the Greenville Planning Commission approved a proposal from a Tennessee-based company to build a new strip mall near the Wal-Mart Supercenter.

Scott Hale, with Anchor Development in Dayton, Tenn., met with the commission and delivered his plans for a 17,300 square-foot building that will house at least eight retail stores.

Willow Pointe, as the new retail center will be titled, will locate on a lot across from Wal-Mart, said Hale.

"Monday, we'll take a core sample of the ground to see if it can hold the building, but we anticipate no problems there," he said.

Hale said he was waiting for approval from the commission before purchasing the property.

Hale said four businesses had signed leases to locate in Willow Pointe. Those include Check Into Cash, Shoe Show, Old Mexico and Cato's. Cato's will re-locate from its current location at Interstate Plaza, said Hale.

Hale estimates construction will be from three to five months on the building, and it should open for business by February.

"I hope we can start next week, but realistically we'll probably start construction by the first of the month," he said.

He said this is the first development for his company in Greenville.

At the commission's regularly scheduled meeting last Tuesday, city inspector John Haire reported that construction on the new Greenville Plaza is advancing.

"They're making progress," Haire said. "They've had some weather problems they've been dealing with, but they've poured the slabs and will start putting up dividing walls here shortly."

Located between Ruby Tuesday's and the Jameson Inn, the Greenville Plaza will house Movie Gallery, which will move from its current location in Interstate Plaza, as well as various other specialty shops. The shopping center will be completed in November.

Haire also announced CorStone, Inc., a sink manufacturer in Greenville's Industrial Park, will expand its operations.

In new business, Charles Hayes requested that property he owns on 2093 Ft. Dale Road be sub-divided into two lots. The commission approved his request.

The commission also approved a sub-division request by Jeffery McGriff at 544 Cahaba Road.