Construction activity in and around Brookhaven continues at agood pace as some projects celebrate completion while others takeanother step forward, officials said.

“We’ve got a pretty good bit going on,” said Steve Moreton,Brookhaven building inspector.

Activity on Brookway Boulevard and nearby streets has beensteady as commercial projects continue.

Following a fire that damaged part of the building earlier thisyear, McDonald’s tore down the previous structure and has startedwork on a new restaurant. Moreton was impressed with the estimated$500,000 project, of which about $20,000 will be forlandscaping.

“It’s going good,” said Butch Boyte, of Bullock Construction inJackson, the company handling the project.

Boyte said the McDonald’s work is targeted for completion beforeThanksgiving. Nearby, the opening date for a gourmet hot dogbusiness was not known, although it was expected to be soon.

In other food-related construction, CiCi’s Pizza has been busyfollowing its recent opening.

Also, a Broma’s Deli is being pursued on the opposite end ofthat building. There were several options for the middle portion ofthe building, but Moreton did not elaborate.

Moreton estimated the deli project to be around $150,000.

“It doesn’t cost as much because the building is already there,”Moreton said.

Also near the boulevard, Moreton said the Scrub A Dub car washis nearing completion. It is being building on BrookhavenStreet.

Moreton said he received some preliminary engineering questionsabout the Stribling property on Brookway Boulevard Extension.Street construction is being considered for future development ofthe site.

“We’re finally going to get some more development west of theinterstate, but how soon I don’t know,” Moreton said.

In other commercial activity, Moreton said Hudson’s Salvage haspurchased the Lincoln Plaza building on Highway 51.

“They’re doing some remodeling in the old bingo parlor,” hesaid.

The approximately $100,000 in work includes electrical, handicapaccessibility and a general spruce up, Moreton said. He said theremodeling would be completed in about three weeks, but an openingdate for the business was not known.

Also on Highway 51, Moreton said a zoning variance has beengranted for a new office complex planned for near the hospital. Thebuilding inspector, though, said he had not seen plans for theproject.

Deep South Sporting Goods recently opened on South JacksonStreet near the arts school. Moreton said the business handlesarchery and other sports-related equipment.

In the industrial park, EPCO has constructed approximately$150,000 truck terminal for its carbon dioxide plant on FenderDrive, Moreton said. City officials are looking for additionalfunding to complete a permanent road to its main facility aftergrant funds fell short.

Not all construction is commercial or industrial related.

“They’re doing a lot of work at the Brookhaven HousingAuthority,” Moreton said.

Over $1 million is being spent on air conditioning, plumbing andgeneral repairs at Carver Heights and Cloverdale Acres, Moretonsaid.

Several churches are pursuing projects.

Faith Presbyterian Church is working on an approximately$750,000 new activities center. The church is located on MageeDrive.

Moreton said Kynette Methodist Church on North Second Street istearing down part of its existing building and planning anexpansion. Also, Saint Paul M.B. Church is looking at developing anew activities center.

Two completed projects will soon celebrate their opening.

The Mississippi National Guard will hold an open house andribbon-cutting ceremony at 10:30 a.m. Saturday for its newreadiness center and organizational maintenance shop on Highway 84.Members of Detachment 2, headquarters company of the FirstBattalion, 155th Infantry, moved into the new facility earlier thisyear.

A new Mississippi Highway Patrol station is being built near thenew armory. It was expected to be completed in the near future.

Lincoln County Public Library officials have scheduled an openhouse for Oct. 10 from 4-6 p.m. to celebrate completion of thelibrary expansion. The approximately $1 million project includedcreation of a new children’s area, handicap accessibility effortsand other remodeling.

Moreton said a number of the developments involved long-termprojects. He was glad to see some being completed and othersgetting started.

“Any time I’ve got five or six commercial projects going, it’spretty good for Brookhaven,” Moreton said.