BLUEFIELD — The Blue-Prince Plaza facility has been sold and marketing for tenants has already started with “firm commitments.”
John O’Neil, executive director of the Mercer County Economic Development Authority (EDA), made the announcement Thursday morning, saying the EDA has purchased the massive 180,000-sq.-ft. complex from the Preservati family.
“The Development Authority has acquired this building to begin some economic activities,” O’Neil said, adding that the goal of the EDA is to be more “assertive and aggressive” in having a hand in creating economic development.
“We saw the opportunity to acquire a property that is in very good condition,” he said. “They (the Preservati family) have done a very good job caring for the building and they also have a passion for wanting to see things happen in the community.”
The process of finding tenants to bring jobs and investments into the county has been under way, he said, and prospects are on the horizon with announcements planned for the near future.
O’Neil said the EDA already has “firm commitments” from some future tenants. “We have quite a few good prospects we think will be in the building.”
“People in Mercer County remember a time when the Blue Prince Shopping Center was a major retail shopping complex,”…
