"No longer will our residents have to travel miles for basic foods andservices," says Ralph Porter, president ofMDB. "Now we will have as our anchor store a new PathmarkSupermarket, rivaling any food establishment in the country, thatwill create approximately 300 jobs." The 48,500-sf Pathmark will feature 24-hour service, a pharmacy,fresh seafood, a full-service deli with hot prepared foods, farm-standproduce and an in-store bank. Other stores in the development willinclude Ashley Stewart, Blockbuster Video, Petland Discount Stores,Athlete's Foot, Rent-A-Center and Rockaway Bedding.

The general contractor for the project is Discover General ContractingCorp. of Mount Vernon. StreetWorks, a division of PEG/Park LLC of WhitePlains, is the architect for the project.

The area's banks, community groups, corporations and the governmentworked together to provide the $30.7 million in funding for the purchaseof the land, construction and infrastructure of the project. An $18.8-million syndicated construction loan was provided by EAB, acting asagent and providing 51% of the loan, and by the Bank of New York,providing 49% of the loan. The project had many other investors as well.