CRANBERRY TWP — The township's housing and business markets are expected to reap the benefits of Westinghouse Electric Co.'s move to Cranberry Woods office park.

The housing, construction, retail and service business sectors all expect boosts with the announcement last week of the Westinghouse relocation.

Company officials on Tuesday announced they chose the Route 228 office park for the company's new $100 million facility that by 2010 will house about 4,000 employees.

Westinghouse, which has about 3,450 employees in Western Pennsylvania, expects its work force to increase by at least 1,000 during the next three years.

Westinghouse's nuclear power plant business employees will move here by 2009. Employees at facilities in Monroeville and Churchill will move to the Cranberry Woods site by 2010.

Gene Scheidemantle of Re/Max Select Realty in Wexford said that during Westinghouse's first phase of development, he does not think there will be a large influx of residents coming from Monroeville.

He estimates 20 percent to 30 percent of current Westinghouse employees would eventually move into the Cranberry area, while more of the new employees would eventually call Butler County home.

Don Rodgers, president of Creative Real Estate Development Co., said his company has 2,000 housing units approved and ready for construction within an eight-mile area of the township.

Rodgers owns about 45 acres adjacent to the area in Cranberry Woods. He plans to build apartments, townhouses, retail space, office space, restaurants and hotels on the property to serve the incoming work force. Construction could begin as soon as next year.

Rodgers expects that over time current employees from Monroeville would relocate to the Cranberry area just for the convenience and services in the township.

A highly anticipated township neighborhood development, Park Place would be "perfect" for the employees who will be coming as a result of Westinghouse's move, Rodgers said. He is a partner in Park Place, which is along Powell and Rochester roads, and includes a mix of 796 residential units on 195 acres.

Construction is set to begin later this year. The development is a mix of apartments, duplexes, townhouses and single-family houses, along with some retail and office space.

Townhomes are priced about $200,000 to $300,000, while residential homes will range from $300,000 to $600,000.

"The company (Westinghouse) will bring more exposure to the area," said Kari Geyer, executive director of the Cranberry Area Chamber of Commerce.

Neil McFadden, township manager for Marshall Township, Allegheny County, which has a small portion of Cranberry Woods, agrees the region will benefit from the Westinghouse facility.

"The region's image will continue to bask in the glow that is Cranberry," he said. "While we're disappointed Westinghouse didn't choose to stay in Allegheny County, the move will have a positive effect on our region."

McFadden projected a potential growth in the housing market and in the retail market in his township.

He said many new and relocating families would decide to live in Marshall Township and other northern Allegheny County communities because of the North Allegheny School District.

"Cranberry Woods is the perfect home. I think Butler County offered the best product for what Westinghouse needed at this time," said Ron Antonucci, general manager of the Pittsburgh Marriott North, which is near the main entrance to the office park.

Antonucci expects the hotel to "experience a significant increase in business."

Harry Schmiedel owns Hobby Express across Route 228 from Cranberry Woods. The Hobby Express sells items such as model airplanes and electric trains.

He said the Westinghouse decision came as a "pleasant surprise" and hopefully will boost his business.

"(Westinghouse) is a high-tech industry, so we're hoping some of the workers are interested in our products," said Schmiedel. "This should have a positive impact on all the businesses in this area."