Construction on the Costco Wholesale store at the former Mount Vernon Multiplex Cinema site on Route 1 will begin this summer.

The demolition permit will be issued in the next 30 to 60 days, with construction beginning this summer, according to Jeff McKay, Lee District Supervisor.

Costco closed on the property on Jan. 9 and now owns the 12-acre site of the former Mount Vernon Multiplex Cinema. The store is expected to open in spring of 2013.

The Board of Supervisors unanimously approved Costco Wholesale’s application to build a 143,416 square foot warehouse last April. The Board of Supervisors negotiated with the New Gum Springs Civic Association and representatives from nearby Spring Green Apartments, and came to an agreement regarding the closing of the median leading to the apartment complex.

“The New Gum Springs Civic Association is not opposing the Costco development based on the action taken by the Board of Supervisors that ensured that the closing of the median to the Spring Garden Apartments would not occur until further study by VDOT,” said New Gum Springs Civic Association president Queenie Cox in an email to Patch. “Costco has also offered to provide a stairway on the property that would allow those residents, particularly seniors, to access Richmond Highway safely at the controlled intersection of Richmond Highway and Ladson Lane."

Residents are still concerned about the expected increase in Route 1 traffic. Route 1 could see an additional 4,500 new daily trips on weekdays and 737 new peak hour trips on Saturdays, according to Costco analysts.

Cox says that traffic is still a concern for the New Gum Springs Civic Association.

"We continue to have concerns about the northbound dual left turn lanes at the intersection of Richmond Highway and Sherwood Hall Lane," she said.