MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Growth continues in the University Town Centre TIF District with the announcement Wednesday of a major distribution hub in the works to be constructed on the western side of Interstate 79.
The announcement came Wednesday morning at the Monongalia County Commission meeting. Ruedebusch Development and Construction has signed a letter of intent and hopes to break ground within the next 60 days on the 105,000 square foot facility.
“We think this secures the vision for the west side development as an economic development project, not just for retail but for industrial office, research and development, and hospitality,” commented Jason Donahue, with FEOH Realty and a broker for Mon View LLC.
Proximity to I-79 was a major factor in the decision to locate the distribution center just behind the Morgantown Mall on the west side of University Town Centre. Donahue pointed out the project would not be possible without the current construction of the new interchange on I-79. The distribution center would be located less and a mile-and-a-half from the interchange.
“Without the interchange and the access to and from the interchange we could not have secured the project,” said Donahue.
The distribution center, which is expected to bring hundreds of jobs to the region, has an aggressive schedule with plans to have it operational in 2016.
Donahue also announced several other businesses have chosen to locate inside the development district, including Starbucks, Chipotle, Ulta and A.C. Moore.