Center Village project continues

By Danielle Paine

Reminder Assistant Editor

EAST LONGMEADOW Like a real estate jigsaw puzzle, the town's new Center Village project is being pieced together to reveal the portrait of success.

The construction of three out of four buildings has been completed in this new shopping center beside the town's infamous rotary. Businesses including Starbucks, Spoletos and Family Wireless have moved into the plaza's many storefronts.

"I think that if you look at the project as a whole, they have done a first class job in the development of that property," said James Driscoll, chair of the East Longmeadow Board of Selectmen. "The businesses that they have brought in are a great addition to the town."

Jayson Falcone, managing partner of Falcone Retail Properties LLP, who has spearheaded the project, reports that the project is both successful and popular as construction nears completion.

"His (James Falcone's) original plan was to create a New England town center in East Longmeadow because they had this rotary with a New England feel but it was pretty unsightly," Falcone said. "He thought 'wouldn't it be nice if there was this nice New England town center there.'"

Nearly six years have passed since Falcone began working with the town to develop and execute a plan for the center that everyone could agree on.

"In an ideal world, we would have loved to leave that as open space but they have every right to develop that property," Driscoll said. "The way they've developed it is as good as our town could have asked for."

Falcone said that everyone was concerned early on about having the right retailers and architecture to make an improvement upon the lot where both the library and town hall reside.

"So far, the feedback in the community on the architecture is that we are improving life in East Longmeadow and that is very good," Falcone said. "As a landlord, it is also important that the tenants are successful; they all have big smiles on their faces at this point."

The last building to be erected will house a bank, whose identity is not yet public. Construction for that will begin in March, Falcone said.

Several other leases are pending for store fronts and offices in the two-story combination structure of retail and office space. By September, Falcone is aiming for 100 percent occupancy of the entire plaza.

"Starbucks, Family Wireless and Supercuts are all businesses that we feel are serving the community need for convenience shopping," Falcone said. "At a certain point, we also realized that we needed a restaurant and we wanted it to be something that was fun and exciting to draw people into downtown East Longmeadow."

Falcone explained that Spoletos, and their seasonal outdoor seating, will add excitement and vitality to the center.

"What we are really looking for is the fun shopping experience," Falcone said. "I think it's really coming along and we are very excited."