Terre Haute is finally getting the Target locals have been buzzing about. Mayor Brandon Sakbun says the national retailer is headed to the city’s east side, zeroing in on the stretch of State Road 46 at New Margaret Drive. That puts the planned store directly across from a busy Walmart and a short drive from the new casino complex, setting up a fresh big-box showdown in an already lively retail corridor. City officials and brokers have been hinting at activity on the site for months, and the mayor’s confirmation brings much of the speculation to a close, even if the finer details are still in flux.
Mayor Confirms The Plan
According to WTHI-TV, Mayor Sakbun confirmed that Target intends to open on the east side but stopped short of offering a firm construction or opening timeline. The station reported that the mayor has been working with developers and state agencies to package infrastructure improvements and land entitlements to make the property more attractive to major retailers.
Developer: Entitlements Nearing Completion
As reported by the Tribune-Star, Gibson Development says it is “nearing completion of entitlements” for a new retail center at the site and expects to begin site work this summer. Brian Kooistra, an executive with the firm, told the paper that the company does not yet have a locked-in contract with Target, leaving the anchor spot technically unfinalized.
Broker Listings Market ‘Lost Creek Landing’
Commercial real estate listings brand the parcel as Lost Creek Landing, pitching a 20,000-square-foot shopping center described as “Target-anchored.” Marketing materials show available suites ranging from about 1,600 to 20,000 square feet. A LoopNet listing highlights the site’s proximity to I-70, heavy traffic volumes on SR-46 and adjacency to a high-performing Walmart as key selling points for national tenants, metrics brokers are leaning on as they court additional retailers.
City Has Already Budgeted Street Work
The Terre Haute Common Council signed off last year on a resolution to extend New Margaret Drive and upgrade related streets and utilities in anticipation of future commercial development on the corridor. As outlined by the City of Terre Haute, the New Margaret Street project is designed to get access and infrastructure in place ahead of full build-out.
Not Final Until Contracts And Permits Are Complete
Even with the mayor publicly backing the plan and brokers openly marketing a Target-anchored center, the project is not a done deal. Developers emphasize that there is no signed public lease yet and that state permitting still has to clear. The Tribune-Star reported Gibson Development saying it “does not have a locked-in contractual agreement, yet,” and city officials noted that any construction timeline will hinge on state approvals.
What This Could Mean Locally
If Target ultimately anchors Lost Creek Landing, brokers say the project would bring new jobs and additional foot traffic to an east-side corridor that is already drawing fresh investment from restaurants, big-box retailers and the new casino resort. Listing materials cite strong vehicle counts and nearby anchors as core reasons the site is attractive to national brands, a pitch developers are using to fill out the remaining tenant spaces.
City officials say they will release a construction and opening schedule once permits are filed and contracts are finalized. WTHI-TV reports that Target and Gibson Development did not immediately offer additional public comment beyond the mayor’s announcement.
