Ridge developer: 'We're on the 1-yard-line' with cinema complex, family entertainment venue

Phase 2 will move south from the current Ridge along an extended major access road that goes all the way north to Walmart. (Courtesy image)

ROCHESTER - One of the leaders of the development company responsible for The Ridge Marketplace said on Tuesday "they are on the 1-yard-line with respect to signing a "large and credible movie theater chain and a family entertainment venue" as additions to the Farmington Road shopping venue.

Josh Levy, a principal at Waterstone Development, was in town to talk to city leaders about additional TIF financing for Phase 2 at The Ridge. Phase 2 is expected to be built south of the Market Basket portion of The Ridge fingerprint and move behind several businesses that currently line Route 11, or Farmington Road.

Levy said an additional national retailer could also find a home in the Phase 2 of The Ridge construction as well as several national and regional restaurant franchises and perhaps even some local eateries.

Levy also noted that the green space between the 110 Grill and Mooyah Burgers had been very well received with several family fun days and movie nights last summer, and that Phase 2 would likely provide for a larger such park with even more free events that the public could take advantage of.

A pedestrian and bike trail from Phase 2 to downtown and 40 acres of hiking trails behind Phase 1 are also in the cards, he said.

"This shows a small microcosm of what we can do for the community," Levy told City Council members.

However Levy and Tom Severino of Severino Trucking Company, the major contractor on construction, allude to higher wetlands costs and grading that could be bigger cost drivers in Phase 2 than was encountered during Phase 1 construction.

Also expected once Phase 2 is nearing completion will be an additional 4,000 feet of widening of Route 11 with a stoplight at Crane Drive.