A promise by a local developer that a multi-million project in Bridgeport would be going on the fast track doesn’t appear to be lip service. On Monday afternoon, the developers of “The Marketplace at Bridgeport” had a site development plan approved for the multi-building commercial park.

 

The development plan for the property is situated along Jerry Dove Drive. It is the acreage currently witnessing heavy earth moving, as well as the pouring of concrete footers for buildings, directly beside the main entrance of White Oaks and across from a portion of the United Hospital Center property.

 

“We’re glad to be doing projects in the City of Bridgeport,” said Dave Biafora, of Metro Property Management, which is the group overseeing the development. “ … We’re going to be here for a long time.”

 

Apparently, no one had any objections to the project being developed and the site development plan that was presented to the Bridgeport Planning Commission. No one spoke, or for that matter was in attendance, for the 15-minute meeting.

 

Biafora and those involved with the project – including the realty end of the development Premier Commercial Real Estate Services – brought the site development plan today in order to facilitate the process of getting things going. Community Development Director Randy Spellman said that the by approving the development plan, Metro Property Management doesn’t have to come back every time a new building is constructed.

 

“Right now, they’re looking at a total of seven buildings and everything proposed, including parking, meets the city’s requirements. The developer would only have to bring new construction through the building permit process,” said Spellman, prior to approval.

 

The building permit process, as well as the infrastructure reviews, still goes through city regulations. And changes to the site development plan as presented that are above a very minor scale would also have to be reconsidered.

 

“If they would do a substantial change then they would have to come back to the Planning Commission,” said Spellman.

 

The development in Bridgeport is for a mixed use commercial park. The buildings that will eventually go up will house office space, medical facilities, restaurants, a bank and several other tenants. Most of the tenants are still in negotiation and Biafora did not divulge the names of any of them during the meeting.

Biafora said he has “no doubt” that he will fill the space and fill it sooner rather than later. In fact, he said once the construction is done, the real estate part of his business is right behind getting tenants to locate inside them. And the businesses that have located in some of Biafora’s developments in West Virginia – particularly Morgantown – are very well known.

 

Eateries such as Sonic, Tilted Kilt, Pies and Pints, Jimmy John’s, Five Guys Burgers and more are part of their portfolio. They also have Gander Mountain, Coldwater Creek, Jos. A. Bank, PNC Bank, Mylan Pharmaceuticals and many other familiar names who they’ve done business with.

 

The first building to be done at the site is a 20,000 square foot office building, which had footers poured in October. That building will have a drive-through bank in it.

 

There will also be two strip centers that will go between 18,000 square feet up to 20,000 square feet. There is also potential for another 20,000 square foot office building on the site, while four out parcels will likely host free standing buildings.

 

A recent announcement of a residential component featuring up to 48 town homes won’t impact Bridgeport directly. Spellman said the property acquired for that portion of the development is outside the city limits.

 

No other business was addressed by the Planning Commission. The group will meet again Dec. 7 at 4 p.m. 

 

Editor's Note: Top photo shows Randy Spellman listening to Dave Biafora following today's meeting, while the second photo is of Planning Commission members Doug Gray, left, and Rodney Kidd. Bottom picture shows representatives of the development, from left, Allen Clayton, Biafora and Michael Allen.