Ground could be broken for a proposed strip mall in Warwood as soon as next month, according to the project's architect.
And depending on how the process goes, the retail center could be in operation by year's end, said Darin Agostini, president of Maracon Inc. of Uniontown, Pa.
He noted that bids for site work are set to go out this coming week or early the following week. After this, top soil at the site will be removed.
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Photo by Joselyn King
Traffic passes by the site of a proposed strip mall in Warwood, to be located along Warwood Avenue north of Centre Foundry and Machine.
It was in March that the Wheeling Planning Commission gave its approval to Maracon for the construction of a strip mall in Warwood north of the Centre Foundry and Machine Co. on Warwood Avenue.
"Everything is still moving forward, but it's slower than expected," Agostini said. "We've had a couple of hiccups. For a couple of tenants, we had to change the site around. But we're in good shape now.
"There were a couple of hurdles, and we learned of some conditions - causing us to do some redesign with the layout of the parking lots. We're just making sure everybody is happy and it all works."
Maracon's plans now call for the construction of two buildings on the property one measuring 25,000 square feet and the other, 11,000. A grocery store, a discount retailer, a fast food restaurant and six strip stores are included in the development.
Agostini further explained the need for the site work.
"There is some unsuitable soil on the site," he said. "We're going to have to cut it out and fill it in."
The proposed development would be placed on land that was once a riverbed, and the ground there is soft, according to Agostini.
"Someone brought in fill and laid it on top," he continued. "There's a little sponginess to the soil. We want to take it off and put a 4-foot layer on top. This would give it a stable condition."
As the site work is being done, the building drawings will be put out for bid, Agostini said. This should happen by the end of June, with construction to start next month. He said construction should take five to six months, but he isn't certain when the businesses will open.
"It's a good question," Agostini admitted. "We're shooting for the end of the year. It all depends on when we get started."
Maracon still needs final building permits for the project and must again appear before the Wheeling Planning Commission. In the interim, crews are permitted to do necessary site work for the development, according to Agostini.