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Norton Commons announces North Village Market

Growing new urbanist community to open innovative retail cottages to cultivate rising local designers and chefs
The open-air North Village Market will include six retail cottages.

PROSPECT, Ky. (June 4, 2018) — Norton Commons, the growing new urbanist development in Prospect, Ky., announced Monday the community has broken ground on a new market in its North Village aimed at incubating local food and retailers. The open-air North Village Market is located at 6301 Moonseed Street, just a stone’s throw from the lakefront amphitheater, and will include six retail cottages.

Norton Commons expects to complete the project in mid-July.

In a unique arrangement, Norton Commons is offering shorter-term agreements than most typical retail and restaurant space leases. Instead of traditional retail terms, Norton Commons will collect a percent of gross sales, allowing for more flexibility and creativity for up-and-coming makers, chefs, merchants and artisans.

“We’ve taken a good bit of inspiration from another New Urbanist community, Seaside, Florida, which has had great success with this model,” said Charles Osborn III, managing director of Norton Commons. “It’s been a win-win for the community and also the entrepreneurs seeking a launching pad or to test a new offering or location.”

Already three businesses have signed agreements at the North Village Market, including BLU Boutique as well as children’s boutique, Rabbit in the Moon, both of which are opening second locations, and Spark Boutique, a women’s apparel and accessories store. “It’s been an overwhelming response just through a little word of mouth,” said Osborn III. “I’m glad we have the flexibility to add a few more cottages if needed. We’re excited about farmers markets, musical performances and some great pop-up stores.”

Norton Commons consulted on the project with the celebrated planner and landscape architect Robert Gibbs, who has been profiled the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal and the Atlantic, and is a leader in New Urbanism.

In April, Norton Commons announced plans to construct unique new amenities in the community’s North Village including preliminary drawings for “The Grove”, a 2.5-acre ridgetop recreational area, complete with a zero-entry, lagoon-style pool and splash park, playground, walking trails and a lush sunset viewing green. Additionally, developers unveiled plans for “Peppermint Green,” a football field-sized civic space and green abutted by a covered breezeway replete with columns in the classical vernacular style.

Norton Commons broke ground on the North Village in 2015 and recently completed its 200th home in that section. When completed, Norton Commons’ North Village will stand at over 1,500 homes.

Construction began in the Norton Commons South Village in 2003. The walkable mixed-use development includes over 65 business, the overwhelming majority of which are independent, including dozens of small shops, professional services, and specialty boutiques. Norton Commons also has a much-talked-about independent food scene, with nationally-recognized chefs serving up unique dishes from Latin street food fusion, to casual Italian trattoria and southern comfort food.

Sabak Wilson is site designer and engineer for the North Village Market, which will be a total of 12,000 s.f.