2 local firms will handle site work for Bridge Street

Developers for World Famous Bridge Street, a retail/residential/office center planned for Cummings Research Park, have awarded site preparation contracts to two local firms.

Civil Solutions LLC has been tapped to provide civil engineering services for the site's infrastructure, including site grading and layout, drainage, roads and bridges. Geo Solutions LLC will perform laboratory testing, earth moving and other geotechnical tasks.

The project is at the corner of Research Park Boulevard and Old Madison Pike.

"We are excited to have these first contracts under way, since this is the beginning of the pre-construction phase," said Gary Safady, managing partner of O&S Holdings LLC, which is developing Bridge Street.

Officials for Los Angeles-based O&S Holdings announced plans for Bridge Street in December 2002. Last fall, Regal Cinemas said it plans to build a 16-screen theater at the site.

Plans call for the $210 million, 100-acre development to have an upscale, open-air town center; a four-star hotel and conference center; specialty shops; offices; restaurants; apartments; and condominiums.

Safady said about 40 percent of the project has leases in negotiation, but he declined to name any prospective tenants.

He said the project should break ground early next year.

Before construction begins, the city must approve an amendment to the zoning law to allow residential development on the site. The land is zoned for "research park community center" use, a designation that doesn't allow homes, apartments or condos, said Marie Bostick, who works in the city planning department. That zoning designation is unique to Research Park and is likely to be changed in coming months.

"We hope to get the zoning amendment started in either August or September and carry it through Planning Commission and City Council and be done in October or November," Bostick said.