Business Park

Hagerstown Mayor Bob Bruchey stopped by The Herald-Mail last week to emphasize that even though he plans to give the proposal to put a University of Maryland Systems campus downtown "our best shot," his top priority is seeing it located somewhere in Washington County. "I won't do anything to jeopardize that," Bruchey said, a position endorsed the next day by former mayor Steve Sager. But anyone who assumes that this agreement to act in everyone's best interest means the city and its concerns can be brushed aside would be mistaken.

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - The bulk of more than $6 million in loans preliminarily approved by the West Virginia Economic Development Authority would go to two Eastern Panhandle companies. Gov. Joe Manchin announced Thursday in a news release that the Berkeley County (W.Va.) Development Authority could receive $2 million - a sum it plans to use to purchase equipment for a new business that could potentially bring 400 new jobs to the area. Summit Point Automotive Research Center (SPARC)

julieg@herald-mail.com WASHINGTON COUNTY - The Washington, D.C., development company that was under contract to buy approximately 368 acres in Friendship Technology Park has terminated its agreement with Potomac Edison Co., a development company official said Monday. The Washington County Planning Commission's Dec. 6 vote to recommend that the Washington County Commissioners reject a zoning text amendment that would allow a mix of development uses at the park was the primary reason John Akridge Development Co. officials terminated the option, said Joe Svatos, senior vice president for Akridge Development.

Get creative and build the stadium To the editor: The Municipal Stadium is a pretty little thing. Unfortunately it does have several drawbacks which a new stadium would correct. First it is in a flood plain. Last year a wall collapsed because of its location. Parking is difficult. Even on evenings without promotions, my husband and I have had to park on residential streets. The park is hard to find unless you are familiar with the area. A location near an interstate interchange would make to stadium easier to find and bring in many more fans.

In an economy that has consumers trying to spend less, longtime Hagerstown businessman Curt Spicher is spending $6 million more. Spicher, president of Spicher's Appliance and Electronics is building a large new store plus space for several other businesses in Chambersburg, Pa. Why now, of all times? "This is for the long duration," Spicher said. "Don't make a decision based upon the way the economy is today when you know you're going to be around the next 100 years. " Spicher said construction of his new Orchard Drive Plaza strip center is well under way on a seven-acre tract he bought in the Chambers 5 business park early this year.

U.S. Rep. Shelley Moore Capito stands underneath of an umbrella prior to a groundbreaking ceremony Thursday for the Tabler Station Business Park near Martinsburg, W.Va. Holding the umbrella is Jim Barnes, while Juston Sizemore, area manager for 84 Lumber, waits for the ceremony to begin. Capito helped obtain a $1.2 million federal grant in 2005 for infrastructure work in the business park. Along with 84 Lumber, A&S Warehouse and 167th TFR Federal Credit Union have signed contracts to purchase land in the park.

The Hagerstown Planning Commission on Wednesday approved a site plan for a three-building Burhans Business Center, which is part of the Hagerstown Business Park. The property is at 903 S. Burhans Blvd. The property is owned by Burhans 1 LLC, said Bob Johnson, project manager of Davis, Renn and Associates, a Hagerstown firm. Burhans 1 LLC plans to rent out the property to businesses to provide office and warehouse space, Johnson said. For the first phase of the center, a 24,000-square-foot building and a 3,000-square-foot building would be constructed, according to a staff report by Zoning Administrator Stephen R. Bockmiller.

HAGERSTOWN daniels@herald-mail.com A Myersville, Md.-based electrical contractor with ties to Washington County is in the process of moving his 50-member firm's headquarters to the Washington County Business Park. Clinton "Skip" Staggers, a Hagerstown resident and president of MEC Inc., said after three years scouting sites in Frederick and Washington counties he selected a 5.2-acre property at 221 McRand Court. "We see Washington County as a huge growth area.

A feasibility study is needed to determine whether it's worth developing a 69-acre lot near Interstate 81 into a new business park for the city of Hagerstown, officials said Tuesday. The land includes a proposed site for a minor league baseball stadium, which would limit the number of lots that could be developed to about eight, said Deborah Everhart, the city's economic development coordinator. "Realistically, you're looking at six to eight lots, not a great number of lots," Everhart said.

GREENCASTLE, Pa. - A $250 million business park envisioned on the west side of Interstate 81 at Exit 3 is moving closer to becoming a reality. The Antrim Township (Pa.) Supervisors on Tuesday gave their blessing to the concept following a presentation by Perini Industrial Land LLC. The business park remains in the early stages of development a decade after being first discussed, but the developer is looking to contact all the state and local agencies involved and soon be able to submit full land development plans.