The Highlands County Board of County Commissioners' Economic Development office announces that Commercial Real Estate Development Consultants (CREDC) has contracted to buy 7.74 acres on U.S. Highway 27 in Sebring with plans to develop it into a new retail site.
The site is located at 1625 U.S. Highway 27 North, which is directly across from The Shops at Shelby Crossing plaza.
The county's economic development office worked closely with CREDC and its partner Kent Lemmon, principal of Kent Lemmon & Associates Realty, LLC, for several months to attract their interest to Highlands County. The office was instrumental in helping the company conduct its community analysis and visits, as well as supplying the group with pertinent demographic and consumer expenditure information.
Williams A. Joyner, principal of CREDC, has developed more than 30 retail shopping centers in Florida and Alabama and has successfully located major grocers, movie theaters, fast food restaurants, clothing stores and drug stores in these plazas.
“Williams felt as though there were opportunities in Highlands County, and I believe that will prove to be true,” Lemmon said. “Highlands County is on the cusp of a huge growth spurt, which is evidenced by its growing population. It is an appealing area, and we are excited to be a part of the community. The site we are working on is strategically located in the heart of the bustling U.S. 27 corridor. It is a great opportunity, and we look forward to its development.”
Lemmon, who is handling tenant recruitment, is working with several retailers who are interested in locating on the site. Interested companies should contact Kent Lemmon & Associates Realty at 561-352-9480 or lemmsi@aim.com. Updates will be announced as commitments are confirmed and as the project progresses through the site development process.
“We welcome CREDC to our community, and we are excited for new development in the area,” said Commissioner Jim Brooks, Highlands County Board of County Commissioners District 1 and commission liaison to the Industrial Development Authority/Economic Development Commission. “Our residents are eager to have more things to do, so I look forward to the opportunities that this project may bring to the community.”
“Highlands County continues to experience stable growth,” said Janet Barber, chair of the Industrial Development Authority/Economic Development Commission. “Our population is growing, and we are seeing many companies expand and new companies start up. I believe this site will see success as there is a lot of traffic in that area. Estimates from the Florida Department of Transportation show that area of U.S. 27 has average daily traffic counts between 37,000 and 39,000 vehicles, which those vehicles translate to consumers.”
For more information on economic development efforts in Highlands County, visit www.highlandsbusiness.com and follow the @Highlandsbusiness page on Facebook. The office’s new website features useful business tools, including robust demographic, workforce, consumer and business data; community profiles; and a dynamic inventory of available sites and buildings.