Oct 9, 2014 3 min read

The lead developer of Southpointe II is inviting the public to see its Southpointe Town Center Main Street project, the 34-acre centerpiece of the development includes a growing number of restaurants and retail shops, offices, apartments and two adjacent hotels.

Horizon Properties principal Michael Swisher said the Main Street Grand Opening & Fall Festival will be held from 3 to 6 p.m. Thursday, with entertainment, food, refreshments, a farmers market, games, a pumpkin patch for children and other attractions.

“If you haven’t been to Southpointe recently, you will be surprised and it will give the public a chance to meet our businesses and restaurants and experience what will be an exciting people place,” Swisher said. “We will also display plans for Town Park and a history plaza that will honor the past and provide a green space for residents, employees and visitors of Southpointe.”

Restaurants and shops now open on Main Street include All Star Sports Bar & Grill, Crazy Mocha Coffee Co., Southpointe Nails, The Spa & Salon at Southpointe and Zoup!

Main Street office tenants now include BenchMark Wealth Management, the law firms of Bowles Rice and Burleson LLP, EdgeMarc Energy, Hi-Crush Partners LP, Modis and State Farm Insurance.

In coming months, Main Street will also welcome Montana’s Rib & Chop House, PNC Bank, Saga Hibachi Steakhouse & Sushi Bar, Toscana Brick Oven and Yum Yum Yogurt.

In 2001, Swisher and Horizon Properties founder and President Rod Piatt began working with the Washington County Authority on a vision plan for the redevelopment of the remaining 217 acres of the former Western Center, which would become Southpointe II.

The development gained traction in 2006 when Consol Energy Inc. announced its decision to move its corporate headquarters there.

“It set in motion the events that would establish Washington County as the Energy Capital of the East,” Swisher said.

He added around the same time, Range Resources was exploring natural gas reserves in the Marcellus Shale formation in Washington County.

Range’s discovery led the way for some of the biggest names in the natural gas industry to come to the area, with many seeking office space in Southpointe II.

“Within a five-year period from 2009 to 2014, after the Consol building was completed, 15 new office buildings, including a new regional headquarters for Range Resources, have been constructed in Southpointe,” Swisher said.

He said that added “over an additional 2 million square feet to the already existing 2.7 million square feet of office space in the original Southpointe.”

Horizon estimated with the buildout of Southpointe II now nearing completion, the overall Southpointe development will have around 12,000 people working there. The Town Center was conceived as a central place where workers and residents could meet for meals, shop or have their hair styled.

Thursday’s event is being co-sponsored by the Washington County Chamber of Commerce.

It will also feature the 1400 Main Street luxury apartments that are under construction, as well as Main Street partners Bedner’s Farm and Greenhouse, Horizon Hospitality, Southpointe Homewood Suites and Hilton Garden Inn, Holiday Inn Express and The Meadows Racetrack & Casino.

“These are amazing accomplishments by any measure, and Rod Piatt and I would like to celebrate with all that have helped to make this happen as well as the public,” Swisher said.