Redstone approved for $4M renovation project
Published on April 23rd, 2008
STONEHAM, MA - After hitting four local regulatory bodies and over two years of planning, the proprietors of the Redstone shopping center can finally break ground on a major $4 million renovation project.
The town's Board of Selectmen stamped a final approval on the rehab job this Tuesday night, paving the way for a L.A. Fitness Center, new CVS pharmacy, two to three more restaurants, and a retail space expansion at the rear of the Marshall's store.
Not a single citizen spoke either in favor or against the site plan during the public hearing.
Local officials, lamenting the existence of a number of vacant storefronts at the shopping center, have long eyed the renovations as a top priority.
According to Main Street attorney Steve Cicatelli, representing S & R Weiner Associates, his clients considered the 55,000 square foot L.A. Fitness center, to be placed in the old Ames building, as a much needed anchor tenant at the commercial site.
"With Ground Round going out and Ames filing for bankruptcy, the left side of the shopping center has been vacant," Cicatelli said.
"They're basically an upper-end fitness facility and we feel that would draw in other tenants," the local lawyer explained. "Basically, this is Stoneham's shopping center. It is important that we have good anchor tenants, so we can be active and vital."
Based upon the proposal, endorsed by the Planning Board, Zoning Board of Appeals, and Conservation Commission, the old Cherry Webb, Ground Round, and Eastern Bank buildings would be razed.
In former proposals, the applicants had intended to place a new CVS pharmacy where the old Ground Round and Eastern Bank branch stood.
However, during subsequent discussions with the town's planners, the petitioners altered that proposal, shifting the CVS over to the edge of the property in order to facilitate a better parking alignment and make room for a fire engine to turn around the building - which will include a drive-through.
A landscaped park area will be placed at the front of the parcel in order to satisfy the Planning Board, which had requested that the left side of the parcel be dedicated green space.
In addition to that change, the L.A. Fitness Center will also be placed within a rehabilitated Ames building, which was previously slated to be demolished and rebuilt.
Access to the gym, which will include a 75-foot long, four lane swimming pool, will be at the rear of the site, from the parking area located behind the Shaw's supermarket.
The southwestern portion of the lot will be pulled back to accommodate more green-space, a concession made in order to resolve neighborhood concerns with flooding.
S & R Weiner has also agreed that the 12,800 square foot addition behind Marshall's, which may become a separate retail location, will not house a restaurant.
"We haven't identified any tenants at this time, but its been made very clear that the town wants a steakhouse and not another Italian restaurant," joked Cicatelli, when asked what kinds of eateries would be moving into the site.
Selectman Frank Vallarelli later asked whether consideration was given to realigning the front entrance of the shopping center in order to make it easier for residents along Nixon Lane to head southbound on Route 28.
Nixon Lane residents can only legally access Route 28 southbound by turning north on Main Street and turning around at North Street.
According to Cicatelli, while planned signalization improvements could benefit Nixon Lane neighbors, his clients ruled-out a major shift of the entrance location due to financial and traffic flow considerations.
"There are approximately five vehicle trips a day leaving Nixon Lane and making illegal U-turns. To accommodate those five people, we would have to shift this whole intersection over," said the lawyer, who argued that change would negatively impact the flow of thousands of cars traveling to the shopping plaza.
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