Pineville officials, business leaders point to city growth, potential (complete article from source)
Source: Shreveport Times, by Tom Bonnette
November 25, 2007
PINEVILLE — Much of central Louisiana's economic expansion in recent years has centered on Alexandria, but with new subdivisions and business developments springing up north of the Red River, there is plenty of prosperity to be boasted of in Pineville as well.
Earlier this month, Pineville officials, developers and business leaders cut the ribbon for the opening of the Ocho Rios subdivision — a new commerical/residental development off the La. Highway 28 business corridor.
Mayor Clarence Fields, who was on hand for the celebration, said the subdivision is indicative of how Pineville is advancing in the midst of central Louisiana's robust growth.
"We are a growing city, but it's still a great place to live, and I think people are recognizing that," said Fields, citing the city motto — "A Great Place to Call Home" — that welcomes visitors on one of the city's newly erected gateway signs.
Fifty-seven residential lots, priced from $38,000 to $62,000 and surrounding a 3½-acre lake under construction, are being sold on the 100-acre development, with plans to attract what developers call "family friendly" businesses such as retail stores and restaurants, said Susan Mathews, of United Country Real Estate, the property's listing agent.
Ocho Rios is one of six subdivisions currently under construction in the Pineville area.
There are also two condominium developments and an apartment complex going up in the city that officials can highlight to show Pineville is an expanding community.
Pineville's business community has grown in recent years, as well.
Among the most notable advances include the Petron Commercial Park in Pineville's Kingsville area, and the Country Inn & Suites by Carlson — the city's first hotel/convention center — off U.S. Highway 165, which on Tuesday accepted its first guests.
Infrastructure improvements have been ongoing to accommodate Pineville's growing industry.
The city's currently building a 3-million-gallon wastewater treatment plant, a $9 million project that has been in the works since Procter & Gamble announced its $165 million-plus expansion in 2002.
Cleco Corp., the Pineville-based utility, also is investing in Central Louisiana's future by building a $1 billion, 600-megawatt power plant near Boyce.
Another economic engine for the community, Louisiana College, is expanding as well.
The school recently received a one-time state grant of $2 million to start a new Allied Health program. Louisiana College also is working on developing a law school, which officials say they would like to build on the Pineville campus.
"The expansion of LC, with the beginning of the Judge Paul Pressler School of Law and also the School of Allied Health, will mean an even greater impact than in the past," LC President Joe Aguillard said.
Pineville's prosperity has been a long time coming, said Central Louisiana Chamber of Commerce President Elton Pody, but it's really no surprise.
Like Alexandria — situated in the center of Louisiana on the Red River, with water and rail access — Pineville is expected to continue to benefit from greater road access, Pody said.
The completion of Interstate 49 was a milestone for Central Louisiana, and as other highway projects are developed — such as Interstate 14, proposed to run from Alexandria to Augusta, Ga. or North Augusta, S.C. — Pineville stands to gain more, he said.
"We are more assessable within a 40- to 50-mile radius than we have ever been, and we will continue to become more assessable," Pody said.
I-49's high traffic count and cheaper real estate north of the Red River compelled Protemp Staffing Solutions Inc. owner Chris Tyler to move his business from Alexandria to Pineville.
Tyler, who started his temporary-to-permanent employment firm in Alexandria four years ago, recently relocated in the C. Tyler Building, a new 10,000-square-foot office building that will serve as the headquarters to a chain of staffing firms he plans to create across the South.
"I believe Pineville is poised to do what Bossier City has done next to Shreveport," Tyler said. "There is a good administration and a good city council, and the infrastructure is there — we are about to hit."
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