It's a No Go for Home Depot, current proposal
Published on October 31st, 2007
STONEHAM, MA - The Stoneham Independent has learned that Home Depot officials informed a Wilmington-based developer some time ago that they have no interest in a south Stoneham store, according to a spokeswoman from the Atlanta-based corporation.
Jennifer King, the senior communications manager for Home Depot's northern division, confirmed this Tuesday that her company has no intentions of opening a 133,000 square foot store at a 16.2 acre property along Fallon Road.
The spokeswoman further claimed that Home Depot officials had declined an offer to become a tenant at the site before The Richmond Company approached state officials last July for $3 million in taxpayer funds for roadway improvements associated with the proposed development.
Intimating that the Wilmington real estate firm pushed for state funding in order to bring Home Depot back to the negotiating table, King emphasized that at no time were Richmond Company officials either working on behalf or in the interests of the home improvement chain.
"I consulted with our real-estate folks and I just wanted to confirm that we're not building a store on that site," said King in a phone interview on Tuesday afternoon. "We're not interested in that site at all."
"I think the developer did a lot of those things on his own," said King, when asked why $3 million in funding would be sought for the mitigation. "He was trying to get the deal going, but we had already said no at that point."
For well over a year now, The Richmond Company has been pushing to erect a 133,000 square foot Home Depot and 12,000 square foot office park at 225 Fallon Road, located in south Stoneham near I-93 and the Winchester line.
Plans to redevelopment the 16.2 acre site, purchased from the A.W. Chesterton Company for an estimated $7.6 million, received a special permit from the Planning Board last April and site plan approval from the Selectmen last June.
Most recently, The Richmond Company filed with a state environmental agency for approval of the plans, and on Oct. 3, the Mass. Environmental Policy Act office invited the Wilmington firm to submit a final impact report for review.
News that Home Depot rejected a move to the site is somewhat surprising, given that at the outset of October, an attorney for the developer proudly announced his clients' plans to continue with the state's environmental MEPA process for the project.
However, based upon King's comments, Home Depot officials had already announced their intentions to walk away from the site, a decision rendered before state funding was sought last summer for the Fallon Road project.
The environmental filing with the state didn't appear in MEPA publications until late August, at least a month after Home Depot reportedly decided not to locate a store at the property.
According to Riemer & Braunstein attorney Mark Vaughan, who represents The Richmond Company, he had received no formal indications that Home Depot wasn't interested in the Fallon Road site.
However, the attorney claimed that his clients had made it clear from the outset of the local permitting process that no formal lease agreement was in place with the corporation.
Based upon the Burlington-based lawyer's response, The Richmond Company still intends to pave ahead with the MEPA process at the state level.
"As we had indicated publicly during the permitting process, a lease agreement with Home Depot had not yet been finalized," said Vaughan. "This remains the case, as The Richmond Company is presently going through the state permitting review process with MEPA and the Mass. Highway Department."
"As we have indicated before, the roadways in this area need to be addressed regardless of this site being developed or not," the attorney continued. "As we work through these issues, The Richmond Company does not think it appropriate or productive to have a public discussion of their on-going lease negotiations with Home Depot."
According to Marble Street resident Doug Carey, who has long opposed the Home Depot proposal along with a large contingent of other south Stoneham neighbors, he welcomes the news that the home improvement store won't move to the location.
However, the Marble Street resident also worries about the repercussions of the previous local permits already authorized by the Stoneham Planning Board and Board of Selectmen.
"I think the worry should be that now we've paved the way for a big box retailer," said Carey. "Are they now proposing a Walmart or another store that will be at least as damaging? We encourage development there. I'm just afraid it will be a monstrosity that will destroy this portion of town."
Assuring the public that the special permit contains adequate protections from such a shift in tenants, Planning Board Chairman Gus Niewenhous referred to one condition of the approval that allows only a Home Depot to move into the property.
Specifically, condition number five of the special permit reads, "The special permit shall only apply to the Home Depot, USA as the sole occupant."
According to Niewenhous, any significant change in use for the proposed development will trigger the need for an entirely separate special permit process.
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