Selectmen Receive Update on Economic Development in Tewksbury

At their Nov. 5 meeting, selectmen received an update on economic development in Tewksbury from Town Manager Richard Montuori, Community Development Director Steve Sadwick and Chief Assessor Christopher Wilcock. 

"Economic development is the creation of jobs in this community and increasing the tax base in this community," Montuori said. "The town has done a great job on economic development, and I think we're making progress every day."

According to area unemployment data, Tewksbury had an unemployment rate of 6.5 percent as of Aug. 2013, compared to 5.5 percent in Middlesex County and 6.8 percent statewide.

Sadwick outlined several parcels that are currently available for commercial/industrial development in Tewksbury:

• 1 Radcliff Road - 135,500 sq. ft.
• 3 Radcliff Road - 31,739 sq. ft. 
• 836 North St. - various tenant build outs are available
• 1596 Andover St. - 11.67 acres, permitted for 90,675 sq. ft. of building in 2000
• 300/400 Ames Pond Dr. - 180,000 sq. ft. of office space; mitigation complete; building permit not applied for
• 495 Woburn St. - 100,000-495,000 sq. ft. for lease (split between Tewksbury and Billerica)
• 890 East St. 27,000 sq. ft. for lease
• 1023/1029 East St. - 27,000 sq. ft. 
• 558 Clark Rd.- 79,070 sq. ft.

According to Sadwick, one party has already expressed possible interest in the 1596 Andover St. parcel for development of a hotel. 

Montuori said the town has approved some of these parcels for development, but the interested developer has not followed through on the permitting or other parts of the process.

"The properties that still haven't been developed, it's not for lack of trying by the community," Montuori said. "You've heard many times Planning Board did approve a parcel to be developed to create those jobs and increase the tax base, but the developer or owner did not follow through what they were permitted to do." 

"We've given that approval but we don't control the developer."

Montuori said there has also been interest in developing the 300/400 Ames Pond Dr. parcel as residential, but that would require a zoning change. 

Sadwick also outlined the following parcels on Main Street available for retail development:

• 345 Main St. - Two retail buildings 17,920 sq. ft. and 7,090 sq. ft. 
• 960 Main St. - 3,000 sq. ft. lending institution with drive thru
• 1777 Main St. - 84,000 sq. ft., lot is approximately 34 acres
• 1879 Main St. - Floodplain and access issues; 100,724 sq. ft. 
• 2131 Main St. - 2.5 acres; previously permitted
• 2230 Main St. - Construct retail building 10,000 sq. ft. first floor/11,000 sq. ft. second floor

Montuori said the town has repeatedly reached out to the owners of the 1777 Main St. parcel to offer them development incentives to turn the currently vacant property into something beneficial to the town and the owners.

According to Montuori, the parcel is currently leased to Stop and Shop for approximately the next 10 to 15 years with very little incentive for the owners to turn the location into something else.

"The town has talked to real estate broker, representatives of Stop and Shop as well as owners," Montuori said. "We just can't seem to make any headway. Nothing seems to get off the ground because of the unique agreement between owners and Stop and Shop. There's not a lot of incentives for owners to do something with the property."

Montuori noted that while there has been some difficulty in moving forward with development of the parcels listed above, the successes the town has recently had with economic development far outweigh the struggles. 

"Our successes in economic development far outweigh the negatives," Montuori said. "These are the sites that constantly get attention, but if you go through the records, Planning Board has gone through the process of permitting those sites."

"We've done a lot of good things, there are just somethings that are not in our control."

Sadwick noted Thermo Fisher Scientific, as well as the development of the Oakdale Mall as recent successes the town has had in economic development.

"Considering what [Oakdale Mall] looked like back in 2003, people forget what a decrepit, dilaptitated plaza that was, and that it was renovated only 10 years ago" Sadwick said.  

Montuori identified several areas where the town can improve the process of economic development, including continuing to improve Tewksbury's reputation as a business friendly community.

"In terms of our reputation as a business friendly community, there's always things we can do to make ourselves more attractive," Montuori said. "As far as quality of life, infrastructure and workforce, I think we're as competitive as any other community."

Selectman Todd Johnson said there was a perception inside the town that Tewksbury was not a business friendly community, but that outsiders view the town as business friendly. 

"I think outside parties view us as a business friendly town, but it seems that there's a perception within the town's borders that we're not very good," Johnson said. "I think it's important to have a discussion periodically about the headway we're making so that people are aware of that."

In conclusion, Montuori said the town continues to focus on expanding both employment opportunities and the tax base in Tewksbury.
   
"We are not standing idly by," Montuori said. "We are working very hard to create jobs and expand the tax base in this community. We are working hard to improve economic development in this community. "