New Town Celebrates Groundbreaking
The New Town mixed use development recently hosted an official groundbreaking to mark the beginning of the construction phase of the project. Located in James City County near the City of Williamsburg, the project has involved extensive planning and coordination between the community, the College of William and Mary, and the owners. The objective of the project is to create a "Renaissance Downtown" for the Greater Williamsburg area. The owners anticipate that construction will begin on roads and utilities this year, with the first commercial building being ready for occupancy next year. The owners, New Town Associates, include the Casey family, the Staubach Company, and the Endowment Association of the College of William and Mary.

New Town is an 800-acre property in the vicinity of the Williamsburg/James City County courthouse, Eastern State Hospital, Route 199, Ironbound Road, and Monticello Drive. Split by Route 199, about 400 acres on one side are slated for Windsor Meade, a full-service retirement community. On the other side, another 300 acres are planned as a mixed-use development that will include a variety of housing, retail, and commercial uses. This area will emphasize green space, pedestrian movement, and state-of-the art telecommunications infrastructure.

Within the mixed-use area of the development, approximately 70 acres are being planned as a technology business park. Discovery Center, the first building planned for that section, is expected to be a 50,000 to 60,000-square foot building that will house a Technology and Business Assistance Center and various other business assistance services, as well as offering space for lease to technology based business firms. With its proximity to the College of William and Mary and the ownership interest of W&M's Endowment Association, it is anticipated that companies with competencies aligning with W&M's strengths will find the technology park to be a very attractive location.

James City County's Office of Economic Development will help New Town Associates recruit technology based companies to the technology park. For information, contact us at www.jccecondev.com