A shopping center and more
PACE — It will look like a large shopping center, but will come with two new roads, traffic signal improvements and land for the new courthouse. Bella Vita, a 399,000- squarefoot development is going in just north of Target in Pea Ridge.
The shopping center is expected to have 40 businesses, including four large anchor stores, six smaller anchor stores and 12 restaurants.
But the key for Santa Rosa County is 17 acres valued at $1.7 million that Joe Maloney, president and CEO of Mpirical Development, says he will offer for a new courthouse.
In exchange, he wants the county to extend Watkins Road, which runs next to Target on U.S. Highway 90, south through properties owned by Sterling Fibers and Air Products to connect to Cynamid Road.
North of Target, Maloney said he will build a four-lane road that will stop short of the power lines which run off East Spencerfield Road. Plans call for the new road eventually to connect to Hamilton Bridge Road.
That will allow people in the south county to cross the Garcon Point Bridge and travel Avalon Boulevard to Cynamid Road to reach the courthouse and Bella Vita.
County Commissioner Tom Stewart said it will cost the county about $100,000 to build the road.
“Even if it cost $200,000, it would be a steal,” Stewart said.
Maloney and at least four other presenters will make offers to county commissioners at 9 a.m. Jan. 15 in the Commission’s chambers in Milton. The board is expected to rate the site recommendations presented by their staff.
County Attorney Tom Dannheisser said commissioners probably will not choose a courthouse site, but “they will most likely get down to ranking them.”
Commissioners have struggled with the courthouse issue for several years. Problems have included where to build it, how to pay for it and whether they can do the job before federal officials step in and do it for them.
In 2002, voters rejected a 1-cent sales tax to fund a new courthouse. Many people said it failed because the issue was tied to road funding — a sore subject in Santa Rosa County.
Stewart said more than a year ago that he wanted to settle the courthouse issue before he stepped down as Commission chairman. It didn’t happen.
Stewart now says he is glad because he believes Maloney’s offer is the most attractive and cost-effective one presented so far.
“He is going to have to pay almost $1 million for traffic light upgrades to improve traffic signalization,” Stewart said. “And he is going to put in a four-lane road with access to the courthouse and the shopping center from Highway 90 and East Spencerfield Road, including the infrastructure.
“That is money the county does not have to spend, and his development will bring safety improvements to Highway 90,” Steward added.
Stewart said the $100,000 cost to the county depends on whether Sterling Fibers and Air Products will donate right of way for the road, which he sees as a viable option.
Maloney said donating land for the courthouse came to mind when the plans for the shopping center.
“After they (residents) do business at the courthouse, there is entertainment. What could be better?” he said.
Mpirical Development also developed Santa Rosa Commons, where Target is located. By next August, Maloney said Publix, PetSmart, Ross Dress for Less, Shoe Carnival, Maurice’s (women’s clothes), Hallmark Cards and Baskin Robbins will open on property between Target and Home Depot.