Back in November Ron Stanley, the manager of High Tech Corridor Development, the group responsible for the development of White Oaks, said work would beginning on another seven-figure project at the site in the very near future. Stanley, it appears, wasn’t kidding.

 

Recently, ground was broken on what could be up to an 8,400 square foot building that will be occupied by Regional Eye Associates. The company is already doing business in Bridgeport with offices located at Thompson Drive.

 

According to Stanley, HTCD will do the building and then lease it to REA. Stanley said the total project cost, including grading along with architectural and engineering work, will be in excess of $2 million.

 

While The Thrasher Group has been handling the A&E work on the building, the grading just recently began. Cove Run Contracting is handling that work.

 

According to Bridgeport Community Development Director Andrea Kerr, it is a substantial grading project. The permit issued by the city was for $290,130. The city received a permit fee of $2,637 for the work that is currently taking place. The permit was issued Jan. 9.

 

“We see a lot of movement and dirt being moved throughout the entire city and the corridor along (State Route) 279 is not an exception. The fact that you have seen that taking place for the last several years along with building going up is a positive sign for development,” Kerr said. “The city could not be more thrilled to see this taking place.”

 

The city is also thrilled to keep Regional Eye Associates in the city. Dr. Edgar Gamponia, managing partner for REA, said back in November REA was looking to combine its Bridgeport and Fairmont locations and the site at White Oaks was somewhat close to a middle point and also provided a highly visible location.

 

“The city loves to see businesses grow and expand and it’s so vitally important when they grow and expand and are looking for a new location they opt to continue doing business within the city limits,” said Kerr. “That gives as an idea that we’re likely doing the right things to entice businesses to remain and grow here.”

 

Regional Eye Associates have six offices with four in West Virginia and two in Maryland, along with a surgery center in Morgantown. According to their Web site, the practice offers a wide variety of eye care solutions including multiple surgical options.

 

The new structure will be constructed on a parcel covering roughly 1.4 acres. It will be situated below TGI Friday with plenty of highway frontage. Plenty of earth-moving activity has been viewed in that area in recent weeks.

 

Stanley said the goal was to have the building ready for them this summer. He pointed to the end of July or the first part of August.

  

The one-story building will be a cover roughly 8,000 square feet. REA will have the option to add 4,000 square feet to the building based on the design and layout, which is the 8,400 square feet mentioned above.

 

In November, Mark Kelly, Regional Eye Associates Chief Executive Officer, said that was another game-changing component offered at White Oaks.

 

“We’re able to able to expand at this location, which was not possible at the other location we were looking at … Here, we can build what we want without worrying about elevators and columns,” said Kelly back in November. “The other thing is that the building and roofing will be designed to allow us to expand on each side of the building by 2,000 square feet. This isn’t just a five or a 10-year investment for us. This is a 25-year investment.”

 

Editor's Note: Work, equipment and the site is shown in the photos above.