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Retail complex may open in time for holiday shopping

The entire Wal-Mart complex area is owned by Vornado Real Estate, which is developing a large parcel of the land into a 25,000 square foot complex. Reminder Publications photo by G. Michael Dobbs
By G. Michael Dobbs

Managing Editor



SPRINGFIELD Wal-Mart is going to have a new retail neighbor at its Boston Road location. Vornado Realty Trust, the company that owns that property is building the first phase of a two-phase retail center that should be opened for the Christmas shopping season.

Although representatives of Vornado did not contact Reminder Publications by press-time, information about the development was on file at the Springfield Building Department.

Wal-Mart's corporate communications department confirmed it does not own the property.

The first phase of the development will be 25,000 square feet and will be divided into six spaces. It will be located closer to the Wal-Mart garden center area. According to the documents, Payless Shoes, EB Games, Expressions, PCX, J. Silver and Sally Beauty Supply would be the tenants.

There is a 50-foot buffer between the back of the building, where deliveries will be made, and a residential area. A chain link fence will be installed, although that might be changed to be a privacy fence, according to Building Department officials.

Because the new building falls within zoning definitions, there was no need for any special permits or zone change requests.

According to the Vornado web site, there is a 4,188 square foot parcel available as well as an 8,016 square foot building that used to house a pet supplies store, but has been vacant for several years.

In total the Vornado property on Boston Road is 181,152 square feet with parking available for 1,167 cars.

Vornado also owns the property on which the Chicopee Wal-Mart is located. Both properties are part of the company's retail portfolio, which is made up of 56 shopping center properties, including two malls and one regional mall, located primarily in the Northeast United States and Puerto Rico totaling 12.4 million square feet.