Bloomington Crossing Blooming

New life has been pumped into the once stagnate Blooming Crossing commercial development in Lowell thanks to Fairchild Construction Inc. and First Federal Bank.

Aaron Nickell, who filed for bankruptcy in November 2007, began the $9 million commercial/office project in September 2006. Nickell originally planned to construct two retail buildings along Bloomington Road, U.S. Highway 71, and a third building to house the corporate office for Aaron Nickell Homes.

Construction crews had the exterior structure of the first building completed before abandoning the project because of financial fallout. By the summer of 2007 the weeds outnumbered the tenants.

But it seems First Federal Bank, which originally financed the project, has gained ownership of the property and has re-hired Fairchild Construction to complete the bank’s planned unit on the north end of the building.

Nathan Fairchild said his crew will finish out First Federal’s space but will leave the other units as-is until tenants are confirmed.

The exterior of the building will include wood paneling, rock and metal.

Fairchild said he has received calls from interested parties for the remainder of the units but has yet to receive word that any deals have been secured.