By Carisa Biesecker

Yet another intersection on Valrico's busy S.R. 60 will soon be home to a retail plaza. National Properties Trust will start construction soon on an approximately 120,000 sq. ft. plaza at the southeast corner of S.R. 60 and St. Cloud Ave.

Although the future square, which neighbors Collins Produce and Creature Castle pet store, is still in the design stage, construction is set to begin within the next six months on the project.

According to National Properties Trust property manager Louis Hernandez, the project will consist of a 78,000-80,000 sq. ft. main building and an approximately 40,000 sq. ft., three-story administrative office building. In addition, there will be five parking spots for every 1,000 sq. ft. of building and a land lease including five out-parcels ranging from 5,000-7,000 sq. ft. each for stand-alone businesses.

The National Properties Trust has various other projects in the area such as a 34,000 sq. ft. plaza to be erected on S.R. 60 across from Sweetbay Supermarket, a five-story building measuring 58,000 sq. ft. next to the Valrico Post Office and a gas station and 100,000 sq. ft. administrative building located at S.R. 60 and U.S. 41. The company is also buying existing strip malls in Sarasota, Lakeland, Winter Haven and a Brandon strip mall named Oak Park located off Causeway Blvd.

"The Brandon and Valrico areas are expanding, so with all the new residents coming to the area there is a need for more administrative offices to help keep work here in Brandon and reduce the traffic on S.R. 60," states Bruce Ovans, president of development. "Our company came to this area to find what the need is for this community."

With new construction comes new upgrades to the community, but Hernandez says it is early to determine what improvements will be made to the Valrico area.

"Improvements are site specific depending on what's there or not there, such as traffic lights, turn lanes or whatever you may not have there. It is also based on what the county wants you to do," adds Hernandez.