By Joe Bachman
Editor

STEVENS POINT — An Amherst construction firm, Blenker Companies, will build an 11,100 sq. foot commercial building on U.S. Highway 10.

According to the site plan application, the building will be used for retail shopping, as well as host Mexican restaurant El Mezcal as the site’s anchor. They will be moving into the new building located at Windy Drive and U.S. Highway 10, a stone’s throw from their current residence.

The future site of the project.

The current property is vacant, and is a part of the Parkdale Subdivision. A conditional use permit will have developers submit a landscaping plan, as well as install sidewalks along Windy Drive.

“There’s so much empty space out there,” said District 7 Alder Mary Kneebone, who shared her concerns. “They’ll be leaving the old El Mezcal — there’s 4,000 square feet available in the building right next to where they want to construct; there’s the old Copps, there’s half of the old Walmart, and now we’ve got empty storefronts and a strip mall for sale out there and now we’re adding another 11,000 square feet — it seems a little like urban sprawl for retail — but there’s absolutely no reason not to approve it, except that it seems like, in my mind, we’re adding more empty space to an area already full of empty space.”

Construction is slated for March and could open as early as May of this year.

This will see final approval at this month’s common council meeting.