More than half a year ago, a site development plan for a new 14,000 square foot building to host a new city business was presented to the Bridgeport Planning Commission. Last week, the project officially moved from concept to the reality stage.

 

Bridgeport Community Development Director Andrea Kerr said that Johnston Supply, a professional HVAC supplier that does wholesale only work, acquired a grading permit to set the stage for the new building to be constructed. The permit is for $194,000 of earth work right off of Platinum Drive.

 

Kerr said the permit was acquired one May 15. Cove Run Contracting will be handling the project for Johnston Supply.

 

“This particular job is a true testament on how every owner should want to see their business grow. This is their third move and they have grown exponentially every time,” said Kerr. “Their focus is to continue to grow at this location.”

 

Currently, Johnston Supply is located in the East View section of Harrison County. The relocation comes as more space is needed.

 

So does that mean more growth could mean a future move outside of Bridgeport? While that’s possible, it probably won’t be in the short term if at all.

 

“The property they purchased off of Platinum Drive was purchased to allow them to easily do a fourth expansion. They won’t have to move, but simply expand on their existing site,” said Kerr.

 

The location of the new business is beside the corporate headquarters of the Bridgeport-based Citynet. Citynet came in after Platinum Drive was expanded several years ago from the existing Platinum Drive business park to Route 58 near Via Veneto and the Social Tap. The road was built with dollars provided by the Industrial Access Road fund.

 

Until the Johnston work, little has taken place outside of Citynet. Now, that’s changing in a big way and with more than just Johnston.

“This will hopefully spur even more activity on the development front as there is more land available,” Kerr said. “You have the Johnston project and Trailhead Investments will be putting an access road to their new residential development likely starting this spring so things will be shaking and baking up there after being quiet for a while.”

 

Owner Roger Ward said the business will bring 12 employees with it to the city and that additional hires may be forthcoming. Ward said back in November the actual project, upon completion, will be a six-figure project. He didn’t put an actual estimate beyond that.

 

Johnstone Supply is a national company with 400 locations across the United States. Their Web site describes the company as a “one-stop shop, with a variety of options in unitary and specialty equipment, repair and replacement parts, and maintenance supplies for residential, light commercial, refrigeration and facilities maintenance.”

 

Editor's Note: Top two pictures shows the initial phase of site prep work, while COmmunity Development Director Andrea Kerr is shown below.