East side to get huge new plaza

East side to get huge new plaza

1,000 jobs expected at new center AV Press on Thursday, February 8, 2007. PALMDALE - With earth-moving equipment grinding away in the distance, city officials and builders ceremoniously broke ground for what will be the largest shopping center on the city's rapidly growing east side.The 47-acre Palm dale Gateway center, on the northwest corner of 47th Street East and Avenue R, will be larger than the east side's first major center: a 33-acre plaza containing 11 businesses, including Wal-Mart and Lowe's, on the southeast corner of 47th Street East and Avenue S. The Palm dale Gateway plaza on Avenue R will be a hub for 18 businesses, including the Antelope Valley 's first SuperTarget, which will offer groceries in addition to other goods. The SuperTarget will be the Gateway plaza's largest anchor, spanning 172,815 square feet, said Brian Hopkins, vice president and development manager of the Hopkins Real Estate Group.

The SuperTarget should be open by mid-October, Hopkins said Wednesday.All told, the Gateway plaza will provide 522,766 square feet of new commercial business space, Hopkins said.About 140,000 square feet will be taken by a new Home Depot outlet, he said. "In addition to that, PetsMart and Staples will be joining us, and numerous pad shops and restaurants" Hopkins said. The SuperTarget will be one of the first structures to be completed, while the Home Depot will not be finished until about March 2008, he said. His company will be investing about $70 million in the project, for which grading was initiated in January, Hopkins said. Government approvals for the project were pushed through in about half the normal time, Hopkins said, extending his appreciation to many individual staff members in various departments at City Hall. Construction of the center will bring improvements to both Avenue R and 47th Street East , which is part of state Route 138, Hopkins said. "The sales tax that will be generated by the center is going to be incredible," Hopkins continued. The new businesses are expected to provide employment for about 1,048 people, city documents show. Mayor Jim Ledford said he was pleased with the business community's interest in serving east side residents. "It's great to see this blueprint unfolding on the east side of our city," said Ledford, who was joined at the groundbreaking by Mayor Pro Tem Mike Dispenza and Councilman Steve Knight.