UHF Development Group announces renovation and expansion of Kinston retail center
Posted: 11-16-2006 :

Located on Highway 70 West, across from Super Wal Mart, between Lowes Home Improvement and Aldi Foods, “Westgate Plaza” will soon become part of Kinston’s growing retail mix. Since purchasing the property several years ago, rehab specialists Eddie Coleman and Hubie Tolson of UHF Development Group have been laying plans for the refurbishment of the center.

UHF Development Group has lured Staples, America’s most prominent office supply superstore to anchor the center. Staples will occupy 16,000 square feet and will open Spring 2007. The renovation and expansion will also include an additional 35,000 square feet of retail. “No other tenant deals are finalized yet but we’ve had strong interest from a number of other retail businesses” said Tolson. As many as four additional retailers may join Staples in the rehabbed former Lowes Home Improvement building and UHF estimates that as many as seven to ten retailers could occupy the new building. In addition, one out parcel will be available for sale. Discussions are underway with several retailers for the out parcel including restaurants and banks.

“Renovation, restoration and adaptive reuse of older and often historic properties have become trademarks of UHF Development Group. We expect this property to be similar to our Goldsboro, N.C. Shopping Center, Berkeley Plaza, where Staples, Goody’s Family Clothing, Books-A-Million, Golds Gym and Cingular Wireless are among the tenants. Most shoppers have no idea that Berkeley Plaza began as a former Lowes Home Improvement Store” Coleman stated.

B.H. Bryan Construction Company of Statesville, NC has been chosen as general contractor for the project. Construction is expected to begin before year end and new tenants should begin opening in the Spring of 2007.

Raleigh retail specialists Coleman & Associates Commercial & Investment Real Estate Company [www.ColemanAssociatesOnline.com] will be providing brokerage, leasing, property management, financing and development consulting services for UHF at Westgate Plaza.

About UHF Development Group
Founders and best buddies Hubert G. Tolson, III (Hubie) and R. Edwin Coleman, Jr. (Eddie) started UHF Development Group, LLC, a commercial real estate company, in 1996. With offices in New Bern, NC and Raleigh, NC, UHF specializes in retail developments and redevelopments on behalf of regional and national retail tenants. In addition, UHF is very involved in the development and redevelopment of historic residential and commercial properties and in the development of new Traditional Neighborhood Developments. UHF recently won a Sir Walter Raleigh Award in Raleigh for a condo development within the Downtown Boylan Heights Historic District. Their diversified real estate projects span the state from Asheville, NC to Ocracoke, NC.

www.UHFOnline.com