Visions For Vacancies: What Should Go On The 'Funland' Property?
Plenty of space in an exceptional location, yet it's been vacant for years.
Welcome to the third installment in our series "Visions for Vacancies," which gives you, the readers, a chance to play developer and planner.
Today's vacant property is the site of the former Funland recreation complex on Route 38 (1879 Main St.). Located across the street from the Tewksbury Country Club, the site would be an ideal location for virtually any type of retail/light industrial project.
Real Estate listings indicate that the two-acre parcel is on the market for $1,879,999.
What do you think should go there? Another recreation oriented business? Perhaps a professional building or R&D complex? The possibilities for the property seem endless, yet it has remained vacant for years.
So we pose the question -- what do you think should go there?
malcolm nichols
7:07 am on Monday, March 5, 2012
Absolutely nothing at that price. The bigger issue is what is going to happen with OSCO shopping area? Looks awful, who owns this? Let's not tolerate.
nancy
11:06 am on Monday, March 5, 2012
I Agree..that whole plaza area needs a face lift
Make A Difference
12:12 pm on Monday, March 5, 2012
Really...that is your concern.
Ok let me give it to you straight. Tewksbury kids are not crazy kids they normally just smoke weed and drink because they are not rich enough like other towns to do anything crazier.
But keeping them bored and giving them nothing to do will only cause them to do this crap more.
Giving kids a place to go and to hang out will keep them out of at least drinking for the time being.
OSCO on the other hand I believe might be taken by a guy who wants to make a club out of it.
tired of tewksbury
3:39 pm on Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Tolerate what ? Would you like them to tear it down and put up new empty space ? They replaced all the lighting and repaved the whole lot last year, it's clean and they are fair on the rent . Try running a business in this economy and high commercial tax rate then we will see how you tolerate , probably another blow in !
James Florence Jr
7:38 am on Monday, March 5, 2012
Funland could have easily remained open if the owners:
1. Treated customers like people instead of dollar signs.
2. Treated their employees and applicants as people.
3. Maintained the grounds and equipment.
That place was so poorly operated I can't believe it remained open as long as it did, and was not surprised at all to see it shut down.
Momof3
7:50 am on Monday, March 5, 2012
Another entertainment complex would be great...perhaps a bowling alley or another mini-golf complex...
Patch Fan
8:26 am on Monday, March 5, 2012
I think an indoor stake park like the one in Rye NH would be a great source of revenue. This is where all of our kids go to Bike and Skate anyway. Not only are we leaving the state to fund another we could be supporting our community instead if we had the opportunity. The Rye Airfield stake park also has camp programs, vacation week program just to mention a few.
denise
8:33 am on Monday, March 5, 2012
A skate park sounds great...the school goes to Tyngsboro for rollarskate time, it would be nice to have it soooo close!
malcolm nichols
8:39 am on Monday, March 5, 2012
How about a new stadium and over all sports complex we don't have one of those YET. Hey maybe we can fund did it with Town Money wouldn't that be great. Maybe even better a new Casino, after all wasn't Tewksbury once indian land.
Coleen
9:08 am on Monday, March 5, 2012
I feel that they really need to do something for the kids/teenager's in Tewksbury. I grew up here as a kid, and we had so many options of where to hang out and go for fun. We had the Tew-Mac Airport, the Grand Prix Arcade, the Drive-in, the Bowling Alley, and Funland. Today, these poor kids only have Livingston, and there isn't that much there for real entertainment for a kid. It's sad to see that most of the teenager's have now where to go but McDonalds, and Burger King to hang out. I really feel that it would be great if someone were to come in and make it a Skateboard Park/with Mini-golf and some amusements that were indoors. It would also be beneficial to throw in an ice-cream shop and a small eatery. I think that would really make the kids of Tewksbury very happy!
SD From T-Bury
11:53 am on Tuesday, March 6, 2012
I grew up here as well and am so grateful we had Funland, Grand Prix, Wamesit Mini-Golf, Drive-In and Wamesit Bowl (one of my favorite places to hang out)! Now there's absolutely nothing! Glad someone is returning the Grand Prix property to entertainment for families. We need more of that! Not sure at that asking price though. I would LOVE a bowling alley!
Make A Difference
12:09 pm on Monday, March 5, 2012
Ya kids literally hang out in Market Basket parking lot because it is free and the police can see them so they know they are not doing any harm. Lets be honest do you adults look forward to hanging out at a supermarket parking lot for 3 hours on a Friday night probably not. Also, besides Market Basket and fast food, there are a lot of job options in the area for 16 year olds. Being 18 I know I had to go out of Tewksbury (and paying for gas) to get a decent job which I am obviously getting minimum wage, and trying to save for college.
With that being said, something like roller kingdom, laser tag, bowling, rock climbing, go kart area, or another mini golf place their but like Kimball's (obviously not as expensive :[ )
Living during the boring Tewksbury age I don't want to see kids being bored al the time. Especially with the health issues this country is facing. Make the kids want to go out and bike somewhere. Ya I used to bike around and walk around. When you have a fun place to go it is even better, but there was no fun place besides my friend's house and livingston.
So Come ON Tewksbury lets goooo!
Shaun
12:11 pm on Monday, March 5, 2012
Wow. For a little under $1.9M, it looks like this place might continue to sit empty for a while.
Gerry cabral
12:21 pm on Monday, March 5, 2012
Malcolm agree with you way to much for asking price
i looked in to this place the cost of building either bowling Alley or mini golf will bring this progect over 2 million.
Jake P
12:55 pm on Monday, March 5, 2012
That property also has ROW /access problems I believe. St on right is privately owned
Mary
1:10 pm on Monday, March 5, 2012
The stores that are adjacent to the defunct miniature golf course are also owned by the same owner of the land that is being sold. Are the stores included in the sale of the land? (Dominio's, Pho Roll, Bank of America)
Tom
7:56 am on Tuesday, March 6, 2012
How about a stip of a hair salon, pizza place and take out chinese? Because it works for everyone else.
Seriously, someplace for kids to hang out. But it isn't happening for $1.8mil.
Make A Difference
12:12 pm on Tuesday, March 6, 2012
ya or maybe a dance studio!....nottt!!
are you kidding me!! we have:
Pizza Places: 10
Hair Salons: 10
Chinese Food: 7
we do NOT need those things...ya you can get a big corporation to take that land..not saying i want chuckie cheese there but a company like that could take it
Splice
1:07 pm on Tuesday, March 6, 2012
A gun shop. We need a good gun store in town.
Donna Wilson
9:43 am on Tuesday, June 19, 2012
I agree that the kids have no place to hang out but what about parents taking responsibility for knowing where their kids are and making sure that they are involved in things so that there is no need to "hang out?" Kids that have too much free time generally get into nothing but trouble with it.
Make A Difference
12:38 pm on Tuesday, June 19, 2012
...this doesn't even make sense.
Ok like our older generation is better than us....all you guys used to do is "hang out". At least now or days kids are more cautious of what they do because they know the hazards of doing drugs and drinking. but you aren't going to stop all kids. just like you aren't going to stop all adults from doing those things.
Lastly, ya kids have to much free time because they can't get jobs at such a young age, so giving them things to do would kind of help out.
jim moses
11:47 am on Tuesday, June 19, 2012
WOW..... you were a teenager for a long time ,the drive inn and bowling ally were gone long before the Grand Prix was opened . Look at the commercial tax rate in town and then you will know why there is so much empty space . Kids today are spoiled and handed everything , let them cut lawns , get a paper route, work never hurt anyone. When you were a kid you got an alowance but you had to work for it , what ever happened to that ?
Make A Difference
12:44 pm on Tuesday, June 19, 2012
But colleen makes a great point there is nothing for them to do. and how are they spoiled they can't help the fact that they grew up in the digital era. These kids do have jobs and they do the paper route but it is nice to actually have fun without having to leave the town. We have to drive at least 20 minutes depending on where you live to actually go out and do something.
Wishful Thinking
12:41 pm on Saturday, June 23, 2012
I think it would be nice to have an establishment like Jay Gee's in Methuen. They have an arcade, mini golf, slick track, go carts, batting cages and ice cream. You can get a punch pass for $17, which is good all season, to do all of those activities. If Tewksbury could find someone to invest in an entertainment establishment like that, it would not only provide summer jobs for kids, but also provide a place for kids and families to go and have fun without breaking the bank.
Wishful Thinking
Mikey T
12:41 pm on Tuesday, January 8, 2013
How about a god dam mall