There are no guarantees when it comes to development. However, a safe bet at the moment may be wagering on more good things to come at the White Oaks development off of Jerry Dove Drive and Interstate 79.

 

For the last few years, there have been frequent announcements of new businesses coming to the sprawling development. And according to one key official, more is one the way.

 

Ron Stanley is the managing member of High Tech Corridor Development, the group that is responsible for developing White Oaks and working with prospective businesses. Last week, Stanley was thrilled that Bridgeport Physical Therapy would be expanding and opening a second city location at their development.

 

The new BPT location will be in White Oaks Retail Village Building II. The building covers 8,749 square feet and it was just completed earlier this year. Already, only one retail space remains as Starbucks, Bridgeport Physical Therapy and Elegant Nails have all signed leases.

 

“We have one slot left I the building,” said Stanley. “There is roughly 2,500 square feet left in the entire building and we hope to have it filled soon.”

 

There’s good news on the remaining space. It may be filled soon.

 

“We are in negotiations as we speak about a final business to fill out the building,” Stanley said. “We believe it will be a restaurant.”

 

If a deal is struck on a new restaurant or another establishment, then the $864,000 structure will be finished. If so, that’s probably not the end of the good news. In fact, it’s likely the beginning of more development at the site.

 

“The market is very hot right now at White Oaks and we’re going to continue to try and capitalize on that,” said Stanley. “We are actually discussing right now about doing another retail building and I would say we’re definitely leaning in a positive direction toward doing just that.”

 

The retail building would be situated in the Phase I area of White Oaks, which is all the business that is visible from the main entrance of White Oaks near United Hospital Center all the way to the Dominion Building. The new retail building, if it comes to fruition, would be in an area near the Hawthorne Suites.

 

“The really good news is that we’re talking about this first building, but that may not be it. There could possibly be two to three retail buildings there,” said Stanley.

 

Phase II at White Oaks recently got its first new tenant. The Crossings at White Oaks, an assisted living facility, recently filed a $13.9 million building permit with the city.

 

There is also a Phase III that already has a business in place. White Oaks also owns property on the northbound side of Interstate 79 and the Kia Freedom building is situated on part of the land in the third phase.

 

Editor's Note: At the top, the image shows work on Premier Bank taking place, which sit directly in the middle of Retail Village Building I and II. Building II can be seen slightly to the right of the photo. Bottom pictures shows a look at parcels in Phase I of White Oaks.