Westborough – Three proposals for former Regal Cinemas, three different concepts.
At its Sept. 6 meeting, the selection committee heard a presentation on what could be done with 231 Turnpike Road, which has been vacant since 2017.
The town acquired the theater through a foreclosure earlier this year, and the town meeting voted to transfer the property to a selection committee for disposal this spring.
The “honeycomb” of business at Regal Cinema site
The first is Ferris Development Group LLC of Southborough. CEO David Ferris envisions a “honeycomb” where local entrepreneurs can network, store equipment and engage with potential customers.
“We’re taking advantage of an older property in a quieter part of town,” said Ferris, whose firm has converted several office buildings in the area. This includes the Southborough building, which is now a data center.
Ferris said 50 to 100 tenants, ranging from contractors to contractors, can accompany the site.
“Demand for this is excessive,” he said.
the curtain rises again
LAX Media MA LLC, the parent company of Apple Cinemas, wants Regal Cinemas sites to return to entertainment centers.
Company co-founders Jegan Gomangalam and Udayana Kotta said they want to renovate “about 70%” of the building. The proposed center includes 12 movie screens with laser projection, reclining seats, an indoor patio and lounge he area, a new kitchen and a full bar.
After dealing with the past two years of pandemics, Cotta said, “I need a place to get out of the house, drink coffee, chat with friends…”.
Since opening its first theater in 2013, the East Walpole-based company has opened 12 theaters, including ones in Cambridge, Rhode Island and Warwick. They plan to open six more cinemas in the near future.
We are also proposing EV parking lots and bicycle parking lots.
Pulte proposes 108 condos
Mark Mastroianni of New England LLC’s Pulte Homes in Westborough proposed a three-story condo with 36 units each for a total of 108 units.
“We see a huge opportunity with this site,” he said. “It’s smart growth at its best.”
Plans call for the condos to be all electric, with LED lighting, low-flow fixtures and recycling facilities in each unit.
Condos are sold as home units. Mastroianni said there is an option to rent with a one-year lease requirement.
Mastroianni estimates there may be 12 more students. One of her selection committee members questioned that estimate, saying other community projects had quoted her three or four times as much.
Next steps for the Regal Cinemas site
All three projects would like to utilize facilities currently on site or nearby, from local businesses to the Charm Bracelet Trail System.
Sustainability is one of the main requirements of the request for proposals, with all three plans calling for the installation of solar panels, EV charging stations, and other energy-efficient equipment.
Going forward, the Selection Committee will review and evaluate each proposal, discuss the results, and decide on a bid at its next or subsequent meeting. This means the Select Board could make a decision on the former Regal Cinemas property this month.
Watch the full presentation at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gO6nT6JwvNI.
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