By Christin.a Pazzanese - Boston Globe
Sunday, March 13, 2005
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Vacant, dusty storefronts sport giant "Space available" signs in the windows. A boarded-up gas station with tall weeds climbing between the pumps looks almost haunted.
It's not exactly the kind of down-and-out image welcome in Needham Heights, and it all could soon change as an effort to attract a more upscale mix of businesses appears to be taking hold.
Several large empty retail spaces along a stretch of Highland Avenue between West Street and the Newton border are close to being revived by new tenants, said Mathew Talcoff, president of the Needham Heights Neighborhood Association.
Developers are expected to sign a deal later this week to bring Panera Bread, a small chain of lunch spots furnished like fancy coffeehouses, to the former Berejik Motors property near Second Avenue, said Talcoff. The entire site, to be called Needham Gateway, will also likely house a men's and women's clothing shop and a home furnishings store, said Talcott
Eastern Bank appears close to buying the property of the former Needham Appliance and Lighting Center, a business that closed a year ago after the owner declared bankruptcy. The bank met informally with the Planning Board earlier this year to discuss putting up a new building.
"We're very encouraged by that," said Talcoff. "It will completely change the character of the area."
"People say, 'Not another bank,'" said Talcoff. But "any business that's willing to invest in the community is welcome here."
Across the street, the site of Heights Pharmacy, a family-run business that closed last year after pharmacist/owner Harvey Tabachnick retired, has been eyed by several restaurateurs, said Talcoff. No deals have signed.
Selectman John H. Cogswell said the recent flurry of activity is a good sign that Needham is making strides to attract an upgraded mix of retail and office space.
Over the last three years, the town rezoned the area near the Newton border to exclude industrial uses and has worked to persuade the state, which owns much of Highland Avenue trom Webster Street into Newton, to redo the road to improve traffic flow and to add sidewalks, decorative street lighting, and landscaping. Plans are still being reviewed by state officials.
Town leaders have worked for more than a year to launch a major, long-range zoning overhaul of the Heights and downtown business districts. Changes would likely involve permitting landlords of ground-level retail spaces to build affordable housing above their stores, improving the streetscape and parking, and other changes designed to stimulate economic growth.
Cogswell said he expects that within the next two weeks the town will have raised the $90,000 needed to hire a consultant to review the downtown. The overhaul would likely take two years to complete, he said.
As tor the overgrown gas station next to the pharmacy and across from the appliance center, Talcoff isn't sure whether the owners are planning to redevelop the property. Even a parking lot would be welcome, he said.
"It's quite a valuable piece of land," said Talcoff. "Almost anything would be better." !Ii
@ Copyright 2005 The New York Times Company
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