Confidentially: Shopping center Landing in Nederland

NEDERLAND – The Jack Brooks Regional Airport is getting a new "landing," but it has nothing to do with planes. "The Landing" is the name of a new shopping center.

Accelerated Development-Velocity, an Arizona-based company, recently leased the 100 acres of land along the US 69 service road in front of the airport.

The company has a long-term lease of 49 years. Jefferson County cannot sell the land because of a federal rule that prohibits a county from selling airport property.

Accelerated Development is currently focused on developing the first 36 acres. Construction is not expected to start before 2015.

The name of the companies and businesses coming to The Landing are confidential until they all sign letters of intent, said Kay DeCuir, economic development director for the Nederland Economic Development Corp. She did confirm that there will be a financial institution and a hotel.

The land will be split into four mixed phases. The different sections will have tag lines to signify different areas of the shopping strip. The name of one section will be "The Landing Shopping Centres of Nederland."

Accelerated Development’s brochure for The Landing shows that Nederland is missing out on $445,493,600, according to a retail leakage summary in the report. That means Nederland residents who are currently shopping elsewhere might spend money at home if given the opportunity.

Listen to Podcast 230 for more Small Towns, Big Deals.