SPANISH FORT, Ala.—If new construction is any indicator of the changing of the seasons, spring has sprung in Spanish Fort.

Phase 5 of the Eastern Shore Centre’s master plan is taking shape with the official purchase of 8 acres just north of Belk by Publix Super Market.

The Lakeland, Fla.-based supermarket chain paid $1.2 million recently for the property with plans to construct a 54,000-square-foot store on the site north of Eastern Shore Drive and west of Eastern Shore Boulevard.

J. David Foshee Jr. of Foshee Realty formed I-10/181 LLC in 2010 in partnership with developer Charlie Trotman for the explicit purpose of selling the property to Publix. The purchase leaves 11 adjacent acres available for future development, and Spanish Fort Building Official Bruce Renkert said an unidentified “big-box” tenant has been discussed for the space but declined to elaborate on the city’s future plans.

Meanwhile, businessman Michael Lapeyrouse has paid $250,000 for the site of the former Exxon station on the Causeway, clearing the way for construction of his proposed multi-use, bait shop-restaurant-convenience store operation.