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http://www.omniture.com --> Sections Home Page Local News AP News Blogs Archives Business Classifieds Event Calendar Forums Life Opinion Obituaries Multimedia Photo Gallery Readers Photo Gallery Sports Tempo Weather Road Cams Special Coverage 2006 Britt Festivals --> Shop Our Valley AutoFinder HomeFinder JobFinder Search Our Valley Special Sections Distinctly Northwest Readers' Choice Homelife Magazine Joy Magazine Oregon Golf Info Oregon Wine Info Other Publications Local Links Ashland News eSouthernOregon Newspapers In Education Personals Moving Here Movie Listings TV Listings Volunteer Customer Service Advertise With Us Media Kit Place Classified Ad Contact Us FAQ's Home Delivery Site Map --> Email Story to a Friend September 8, 2006 A rendering of the Vista Pointe commercial development on McAndrews Road in east Medford. Construction is expected to start in the spring. Gearing up for ... Vista Pointe Westridge Village, an 11.7-acre office/retail complex, will kick off this ambitious development on Medford's east side in a growing residential area By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune The developers of Vista Pointe in the east Medford foothills are poised to begin work on 11.7-acre Westridge Village, an office and retail complex that will add nearly 100,000 square feet of commercial space along the East McAndrews Road extension. The project calls for a total of 25 commercial building pads, 56,120 square feet of office space and 41,000 square feet of retail space to be developed on both sides of McAndrews Road. Included in the retail space are plans for a 6,000-square-foot restaurant. "It's going to change the face of east Medford," says Rob Patridge, president of the Schleining Companies. "It will provide shopping, convenience and a sense of community as well as a village center for the people living in Vista Pointe." The expected cost of the commercial project hasn't been calculated, Patridge said, pending engineering estimates. Buildings will range from 7,500 square feet down to 2,100 square feet. Until now, east Medford's retail expansion has been centered around Larson Creek Shopping Center and the only commercial entities east of Foothill Road being Rogue Valley Swim & Tennis Club and Roxy Ann Winery. A small commercial development is emerging on the northeast fringe of the Rogue Valley Country Club along North Phoenix Road. Advertisement Houses started sprouting up in the 450-lot Vista Pointe residential development last year. The first occupants in the commercial development will be land-use planning firm Craig Stone and Associates and the Schleining Companies; they'll be in buildings along Brownridge Terrace. Much of the commercial development, including the restaurant will be on the west side of McAndrews. "I think it was a logical conclusion that there needed to be some commercial space provided for people to be able to walk to dinner and do a little shopping," Patridge says. "It fits well with the active people coming to Medford for the Southern Oregon lifestyle. Right now, anyone in east Medford has to get into a car and drive to get anything, whether it's getting something to eat or deposit money in the bank." Chamber of Commerce Chief Executive Brad Hicks says there are other advantages. "It's smart development, because you'll be taxing other area infrastructure less," Hicks says. "The citizens won't have to drive two miles someplace else to get a newspaper and a gallon of milk. The services provided there will cut trips down and that will help air quality and congestion." Although the planning department has signed off on the project, site plan details still must go through architectural review. That means construction will probably commence next spring. "We'll probably have to wait until next spring or summer because it will probably get too wet, too quick," Patridge says. Westridge Village is an attractive place for a restaurant, because of its proximity to upscale clients. That has sparked interest among several local restaurateurs, Patridge says. "The view for whatever restaurant is going in will be just awesome. I don't know, necessarily, if our parking and spacing would meet requirements for national chains, but I anticipate a full-service restaurant, convenience market and a bank. Reach reporter Greg Stiles at 776-4463 or at [email protected] Would you like to respond to this story? If so Click Here to visit our forums. Advertisement Copyright © 1997-2007 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback online casinos news Home Security Systems Online Casino Reviews Fundraisers UK Homeowner Loans Casinos Canada Cord Blood Banking Entertainment Guide Texas Electric Choice Compare Electric rates in Texas Windermere Van Vleet Trunks, Footlocker Men's Clothing Debt Help