It wasn’t long ago, a resident could go through Douglas and see the same stores they had visited five years before. No changes, just consistency.
 The Burger Shack, located in the former Sonic restaurant on 10th Street, opened Friday. |
New stores and planned construction can be seen throughout the community, but particularly along Pan American and Fifth Street and on 10th Street near San Antonio.
The construction of a call center on 10th Street in the former location of a grocery store has received the most attention in recent months, but is only one of several changes occurring.
Construction is continuing at the call center . The building had been gutted by city crews, said Carlos de la Torre, Public Works Director.
Some plumbing work has already been done, and overall the building is in pretty good shape, he said.
The city has cut sections of the building out but de la Torre said that was to add some architectural elements to the facility.
“Minor work needs to occur on the roof. The mechanical, electrical and duct work needs to be replaced because it was no longer within code requirements,” he said.
The work is still on schedule and should be completed by the end of the year, he said.
Once completed, the call center will have the potential to have approximately 700 employees. The call center currently is employing approximately 100 workers at a temporary facility.
Just down the street from the call center, The Burger Shack is preparing to open.
Located in the former location of Sonic, the restaurant will have much the same fare as its predecessor and iopened for business on Friday.
They will be hosting the traditional Labor Day Car Show next weekend with a grand opening scheduled next month.
Construction is also underway at a 50-unit Best Western Motel. After a series of starts and stops over the last several years, the motel construction is finally underway and proceeding on schedule.
They have started to rough in the plumbing and have poured the foundation.
De la Torre said in the last meeting with the owners on March 11, that construction was on schedule for a February 2009 opening at its location on Seventh Street and Pan American.
There was some discussion about a second motel and a request had been made by a Georgia company to purchase land. The city put the land up to bid, but there were no bidders and the property has gone unsold.
In the same vicinity, Walgreens indicated interest in a series of residential and commercial lots on the corner of Pan American and Fifth Street for a new store, but negotiations for the land has stalled.
According to reports, there are no new plans or new locations the drugstore chain is looking at in the community.
A little farther down on Pan American, at an empty lot next to the KFC/Taco Bell, Restaurant chain Carl’s Jr. has taken out a building permit for a restaurant and adjoining unit to be constructed.
There has not been any activity on the lot, but Carl’s Jr. has a year in which to begin construction.
Reportedly Aaron’s Rents wants to move into Douglas in the additional commercial units on that same lot.
One store that did finally open was Fallas Paraedes, a discount clothing store, located next to Stage in the old Wal-Mart building on Fifth Street. Both stores have been busy in recent weeks since the opening.
On Pan American and Third Street, Ueta still needs to complete some sidewalk repair and landscaping before they will be cleared to open.
De la Torre said the construction is taking a little longer than anticipated but is not concerned about the delay.
Comments
DC wrote on Aug 28, 2008 12:30 PM:
when is the Mayor going to stop the construction of the very ugly and expensive fountain in our best park.... how degrading to us who knew the park as one of the best in the state. "
Jesus wrote on Aug 28, 2008 8:29 AM:
Winslow wrote on Aug 27, 2008 6:03 PM:
Weeds and our city flower (Walmart Bags) are all over the place, how can we get excited about the growth in Douglas, when Douglas is looking like %*$%. "
Manuel wrote on Aug 26, 2008 12:33 AM:
i forgot my name wrote on Aug 25, 2008 1:08 PM: