Two businesses have signed occupancy agreements at Southside, the Bermuda Land Development Company announced yesterday.

BBS Ltd. and Stafford & Company have leased large warehouses and a work yard on Ships Wharf.

BBS Ltd. -- a holding company for Bermuda Building Specialities Ltd., BermudaTech Construction Ltd. and Surface Tech Ltd. -- described the move to Southside as "primarily about consolidating operations in one area''.

"We will also be considering expanding further at Southside,'' BBS's president John Baxter revealed yesterday.

BermudaTech Construction Ltd. intend to use the work yard to store construction materials and Surface Tech Ltd. plan on using the large warehouse for its Corian fabrication operation.

Stafford & Company, suppliers of wood flooring, wood floor finishes and windows and doors, will use the 2,000-square-foot warehouse they have leased in another area of Ships Wharf for storage purposes.

Commenting on why Stafford & Company decided to move to Southside, company president Randy Stafford stated: "It has the space I need at a more attractive rent than other areas I looked at.'' And BLDC's vice president for commercial development Mark Orchard enthusiastically welcomed the two businesses.

"We're excited about these moves because they help advance the development and use of this tremendous property, particularly at Ships Wharf,'' Mr.

Orchard said.

BLDC also announced the move of St. David's Seventh Day Adventist Church into a community building on the main road to the west of the former McDonald's restaurant.

Previously the church had been meeting in temporary space at Clearwater Middle School.

Church head Elder Ross Outerbridge expressed his delight at the move.

"This is a great improvement,'' he said. "It's permanent. There's no uncertainty anymore.'' The church is planning to use the building for Wednesday evening prayer meetings and Saturday Sabbath as well as a variety of community events.