North Gateway reaching 'critical mass'

'Premier' developer encouraged by local growth

MOSES LAKE — More news is expected in the next few days about a Moses Lake shopping center long in the works.

According to Kim Foster, corporate counsel of the Aero-Space Port International (ASPI) Group, a "premier" Northwest shopping center developer is working on a plan for the site of the North Gateway Center to "assemble a critical mass of anchor-type retailers."

Engineering for the center was completed in June 2004, and infrastructure completed in September 2005. It is expected to house several major retailers and several smaller businesses.

Foster declined to name the developer, whom he said is in the process of meeting with a major retailer. He did say the developer has shopping centers throughout the Northwest.

"We believe this developer could have the power to pull something together out there," he said. "He's impressed and encouraged with the growth pattern of north and west Moses Lake."

Foster said that includes the Sage Bay area south of the Grant County Fairgrounds and growth in the Cascade Valley and McConihe Flats area, and said the number of recent announcements of investments in Quincy, including Columbia Colstor, Microsoft MSN and Yahoo Inc., have shifted attention to the Quincy/Ephrata demographic areas.

"With a developer of their credibility and track record, it means you would have someone capable of pulling together premier retailers that would be of huge benefit to the greater Moses Lake-Grant County community," Foster said of the retailer. "They can provide the critical mass to bring several (retailers) at one time, as opposed to one here, one there. Having this company involved definitely turns the viability of the project up a notch."

In other ASPI-related news, Foster said Liquidation World, which is renting part of the old Kmart building that ASPI is managing for a Taiwan-based owner, is on track and going to open by the end of the month.