Park Place developer sees more retail, restaurants and apartments coming in 2018

December 18, 2017

Michael Bradwell
Observer Reporter

When Planet Fitness gym opened in early spring this year at Park Place at the Meadows, developer Dave Biafora had promised some additional in-line retail stores in the building adjacent to the gym on Wildflower Drive. Since then, four businesses have opened with a fifth preparing to open early next year.

The recent additions include: Nutrition Pit, a supplier of nutritional, sports and bodybuilding supplements; Crossroads Physical Therapy; Pruce Dental; Glazed & Confused, an ice cream and doughnut sandwich shop; and Vintage Grace Boutique or “VGB,” which features contemporary clothing and custom made jewelry. The final of the five shops is Uncle Koko’s Pizzeria, which posted on its website last week that it will open Jan. 6.

But Biafora, principal of Metro Property Management, the Morgantown, W.Va., company that is developing the mixed-use site that straddles North and South Strabane townships along Route 19 north, isn’t finished.

During a brief telephone conversation Wednesday, he said 2018 will be another year of residential and commercial construction in Park Place.

In the first quarter, plans include the construction of a 12,000 square-foot outparcel in front of Planet Fitness that will include a yet-to-be-named 5,000 square-foot Chinese buffet-style restaurant with remaining space for other retailers. Occupancy is expected to be completed by August or September.

Metro will also build another 20,000 square-foot structure across from the BFS convenience complex and in front of the development’s original retail strip for additional offices, restaurants and retail with individual spaces ranging from 1,500 to 2,000 square feet.

On the residential side of Park Place, Biafora said the first phase of townhouses and apartments that opened earlier this year are at 97 percent occupancy. In the first quarter, construction will begin on Phase 2 for 88 additional two- and three-bedroom units that will be priced between $1,300 and $1,400 per month.