Branson Commerce Park breaks ground

Blasi, Gordon Garrett and a third unnamed partner formed Frontline Development LLC, based in Kansas City, to develop the business park at the corner of Buena Vista Road and State Highway 248.

Blasi said the Branson Commerce Park is the “first project of the collective group.” Blasi and company are financing the development with $17 million in bonds issued though a community improvement district approved by the city of Branson earlier this year.

“The city has no liability,” he said. “The city of Branson just passed the ordinance (for the CID).”

Frontline has partnered with CenturyTel to develop the communication company’s first Smart Park. In the park, high-speed Internet infrastructure is self-contained, meaning that if a cable is cut somewhere, it won’t affect other users in the park.

White River Valley Electric Co-op will provide electrical service, and Commercial One Brokers is the sales agent for the park.

Blasi said the next step for his company is to sign “purchase contracts with other developers and sell land to other businesses who want to locate in the park. We don’t intend to develop anything vertical at this time.”

The firm wants to attract light industry such as technology users, light manufacturers, warehouses, offices, call and distribution centers, and job-training facilities. No tenants have been announced. Steve Critchfield, broker and partner of Commercial One Brokers, said his company has received letters of intent, but he would not disclose the companies.

Adjacent to the industrial park will be a 180-acre residential development, which the Branson Board of Aldermen approved along with the commercial side on Aug. 14, 2006.

Critchfield said his company also is sales agent for the residential acreage.

“We are going to recruit a specialist to do the bulk building,” he said. “They are production builders. They are used to blowing out houses.”

The residential area will include single family homes and 700 units of condos, apartments, duplexes and townhouses. Critchfield said the residential community will be built, in part, to accommodate the employees of the business park.

“We hope we can put some equity in their housing rather than in their gas tanks,” he said.[[In-content Ad]]