PARRISH — Benderson Development Co. planned a 300,000-square-foot shopping center near Parrish but those familiar with the project say construction is on hold for now.
The company planned to build Creekside Commons retail center on an property at the intersection of Erie Road and U.S. 301 North.
Misty Servia, the planning department manager for King Engineering Associates, Inc. who helped with Benderson’s preliminary site plan and rezoning in 2006, said she thinks the project is probably on hold.
“They have not canceled the plan,” she said. “My feeling is it’s probably delayed. I know it’s definitely not gone for good.”
She is optimistic that the development will be built once the economy recovers.
Realtor Jordan Chancey, with Leslie Wells Realty, Inc., represented a client who sold the property to Benderson.
“Everything’s on hold,” Chancey said. “It would probably be smart for them to hold off. We have other projects with vacancies.”
Calls seeking comment from the Benderson company Tuesday were not returned.
The slow economy and the housing bust are factors causing delays in commercial property developments right now, said Stan Rutstein, a Bradenton developer and commercial Realtor with ReMax Alliance.
“No. 1, financing is a major challenge,” he said. “People are not expanding. To some degree, we’ll have to get this housing thing back on track before retailers will want to jump in the water again.
“I think people are being very, very cautious. It will happen, it’s such a wonderful street corner, but it will take time,” he added.
The Manatee County Commission approved preliminary plans for the center, which the developer described as a multiple-use anchor retail center that would incorporate a variety of boutiques, restaurants and banks, according to Herald archives.
Benderson had said the project would bring 200 new construction jobs and 150 permanent jobs.
Benderson had also committed to investing about $5.1 million in road projects around the development including a bypass or “loop road” designed to alleviate congestion at the intersection.
Last year, a Benderson spokesman confirmed that construction had been postponed on its massive University Town Center megamall because of poor economic conditions.
The company will await more favorable economic conditions before it begins work on the proposed 276-acre mall, retail, office and residential complex south of University Parkway at Interstate 75, Mark Chait, Benderson’s director of leasing, told The Herald.
Sara Kennedy, Herald reporter, can be reached at (941) 745-7031 or at skennedy@bradenton.com.
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