Carbon County leaders hailed today’s announcement that a 50-acre shopping site, the Carbon Plaza, will be constructed on Route 443, one mile west of Lehighton. The new facility will include a parking area for 1,200 cars.

The plaza will be located on property of German W. Steigerwalt and is being developed by the Mark Realty Co., Kingston.

Officials said leases have already been negotiated and prepared for a 65,000-square-foot department store with a four-bay automotive center; a 20,000-square-foot food store; a 6,000-square-foot drugstore and a 12,000-square-foot variety store.

Work on clearing the land is expected to start by the end of the year with the actual construction to possibly begin in early 1969.