Building demolished as work on new shopping center continues

Work to create a new shopping center at the corner of Highway 305 and High School Road continued Friday with the demolition of the building at the corner of the busy intersection that was once home to Deschamps Realty and later, Coldwell Banker McKenzie Associates.

September 6, 2014 1:19 pm
Demolition of the two-story building that once housed real-estate offices at the corner of Highway 305 and High School Road began Friday.
Demolition of the two-story building that once housed real-estate offices at the corner of Highway 305 and High School Road began Friday.

Work to create a new shopping center at the corner of Highway 305 and High School Road continued Friday with the demolition of the building at the corner of the busy intersection that was once home to Deschamps Realty and later, Coldwell Banker McKenzie Associates.

Visconsi Companies, an Ohio-based development firm, is developing the new seven-building, 61,890-square-foot commercial complex on the 8.16-acre property.

Clearing of the land began earlier this month, and the demolition work proceeded quickly Friday.

Development of the property has been highly controversial, and was bitterly opposed by a grassroots group called Islanders for Responsible Development.

Critics of the development have said the new shopping center will worsen traffic, and also claim the new businesses are unneeded and will compete with established merchants on the island.