© 2024 88.9 KETR
Public Radio for Northeast Texas
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Commerce construction update

By Scott Harvey

Commerce – Businesses throughout Commerce continue to make strides in facilitative improvements, as construction along Live Oak Street as well as other parts of the city is nearing completion.

Only one facility to date is complete and operational. Last month Financial Planner Russell Armstrong moved his business, AIS Financial, into its new building on south Live Oak. Just down the street is the future home of Family Video, currently being assembled by Rockford Construction out of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Job Site Superintendent Jake Miller says construction is about 75% complete. He expects if all goes as planned, operations should be handed over to owners my mid to late May. Opening will take place shortly thereafter. Just caddy corner from Family Video on the corner of Live Oak and Monroe is State Farm Insurance, where a new office building is in the works. Insurance Agent Dixie Turman says plans are to be move in by late June or early July. Also along Live Oak is the new destination for Cypress Bank, to be located at the corner of Live Oak and Arp Street. Vice President and Branch Manager Eddie Smith says work is about 75% complete and hopes to be moved in by July.

Not all construction however is taking place along Live Oak Street. Lone Star Pizza Works will soon be moving from Live Oak to its new facilities on Highway 50 in front of Holiday Inn Express. Lone Star's Ralph Moyer says crews are in the process of putting up siding and laying concrete, with inside assembly to begin shortly. They're about six weeks away making the move, to take place either in late May or early June. Not to be forgotten is St. Joseph Catholic Church along Monroe Street. Father George Monaghan says construction is about 50% complete. Crews are beginning to focus attentions on the framing inside the structure. Completion is projected by September.

The City of Commerce is joined by Texas A&M University-Commerce and the Commerce Independent School District, both currently working to erect new or modify existing facilities. The A&M-Commerce campus currently features construction of a new Student Center and Alumni Relations Building, with groundbreaking for a new Music Building to take place this summer. The Commerce School District will be holding groundbreaking ceremonies of the new A.C. Williams Elementary School on Thursday, May 15 at 1:30 p.m. KETR will continue to update you as these and other projects near completion.