SALISBURY ó Construction has started on Westgate Commons, a 15-acre development at the intersection of Jake Alexander Boulevard and Brenner Avenue.
Developer Childress Klein Properties broke ground this week after more than a month of site preparation, including grading and tree removal. The project will include about 100,000 square feet of commercial space and includes outparcels fronting Jake Alexander Boulevard, said Chris Thomas, a Childress Klein partner.
The Aldi grocery store chain is the lead retailer for the first phase of Westgate Commons. Aldi purchased a 1.87-acre parcel from Childress Klein in July and will construct an 18,000-square-foot grocery store, which should open in spring 2012.
This will be the second Aldi store in the Salisbury market, which is also home to its divisional office and distribution center. Aldi has more than 1,100 U.S. stores in 31 states.
Westgate Commons is Childress Kleinís first project in Rowan County. One of the largest private real estate development, investment and management companies in the Southeast, Childress Klein is headquartered in Charlotte with more than 35 million square feet of commercial real estate projects in the Carolinas, Virginia, Georgia and Florida.
Contact reporter Emily Ford at 704-797-4264.