Travel west on Clark Avenue toward Old Town Orcutt, and it's hard to miss the apparent construction boom taking place in the small, downtown area.

New buildings are dotted along the main drag; north on Broadway a perky-colored retail space was just completed along with four rental units; and on South Broadway, a favorite eatery is being remodeled across the street from three new structures undergoing construction.

The new construction has been a relatively recent advent in the century-old community of approximately 1,000 people, and comes at a time when the flat economy has been grounding - not encouraging - development all over the country.

But if it's built, then businesses will come, according to Orcutt native and developer Joe Will.

"We're confident that the economy will come back, because Orcutt is a fantastic place to live, and businesses will follow," said Will, who represents his family's partnership and its new development venture, Orcutt Union Plaza on Clark Avenue, west of Broadway.

Apparently, other local landowners and developers agree.

At Clark Avenue and Gray Street, there are two structures with office and retail space that were erected in the past year, and at Clark Avenue and North First Street, a development called Orcutt Mercantile is shaping up.

Right next door, a project known as Old Town Country Corner is in the works, but yet to be constructed.

On North Broadway, Dr. Thomas Ponto of Orcutt Dentistry and his wife, Carole Ponto, recently completed their eye-catching residential and retail development adjacent to his practice on the corner of Broadway and Park Avenue.

"The economy will turn around; things always go in cycles," said Thomas Ponto, who has lived and practiced in the area for more than 30 years. "You have to be optimistic."

There are two, 800-square-foot suites in the building that fronts Broadway, and one is tentatively leased by Wine Country, a family-owned business that sells fine wines, hand-rolled cigars and craft beers in Los Olivos.

An application has been filed with the California Alcohol Beverage Control for a license 42, which would allow the sale of beer and wine on the premise.

Behind the retail structure and facing Park Avenue are four appealing, blue-and-yellow town homes in the new Western-style.

"We had been working on it for four to five years, and it (received approval) last year," Ponto said. "You could sit on your hands some more, but you don't know what the future holds. So we decided it was the right time."

South on Broadway, major construction is under way with the creation of Orcutt Union Plaza and remodeling on the strip-mall structure that houses Jack's Restaurant.

Orcutt Union Plaza will be some 40,000 square feet consisting of three buildings, according to Will.

Building "A" is situated at an angle behind the cozy Italian restaurant, Trattoria Uliveto, and Casa Bella, a flower and gift shop.

It's anchor tenant will be Rooney's Irish Pub and Micro Brewery, with McDermott Accounting Firm and Grey Wolf Insurance leasing space on the second floor, Will said.

A little shifting and expanding will be going on in the area as well.

Plains Exploration and Production Company will maintain in its current offices as well as renting some space in one of the three buildings, he said.

Casa Bella will be relocating to Building "C," which will be located on Clark Avenue, south of Broadway, and Trattoria Uliveto will expand into Casa's space, Will explained. An outdoor seating area and space for a farmers market is also planned between Uliveto and the pub.

"We purchased the property in 2003 with the hope of enhancing the infrastructure of Orcutt," said Will, who was born and raised in the unincorporated community.

"We love Orcutt. We went to these schools, we played sports here and we want to give back to the community that gave so much to us."

Will said he expects that by drawing in new local businesses, restaurants and other nearby retailers will benefit. The project will also furnish the community with 270 additional parking spots.

"There's a good old town feeling here, and the goal is to draw in more people that want to open their wallets for Orcutt businesses," he added.

The three buildings are far from fully leased, but Will was confident that once the exterior is completed, tenants will materialize.