why not a store that will bring people to Chelmsford-like a Christmas Tree Shop or something?

Trader Joe's would be awesome.

A bowling alley and pool hall. I have enough junk in my house, now I need something else to do. LOL-

While the likelihood of this happening is just about zero since S&S owns the plaza, I would have loved a Whole Foods or Trader Joe's.

Honestly, I think many people miss having a supermarket in that location. While the old S&S and Marshalls were not the nicest ones around, they were extremely convenient. Really miss them. I shopped at the S&S quite a bit before, but have only been to the new one twice, and neither time for a major purchase. It just isn't convenient/easy for me to get there now. I think S&S would actually be smart to open a smaller store in that location again. (Look at how many Market Baskets are around...)

My first choice would be a Fire Station in the old marshalls and another supermarket, as I now have to drive about 4 miles to buy food. Nether choice will likely happen as I have been in touch with the brokers for Atlantic Realty and the problem is long term leases which the owners have to honor. So I guess the site will continue to look like downtown Detroit.

I'd like to see a Trader Joe's, a coffee shop and a park (with playground). I hope they tear the whole building down and start again. While convenient that building is an eyesore!

Even though S&S wouldn't like another grocery store in their place, a Whole Foods would be nice. I don't mind driving to Tyngsboro for Trader Joe's, but I don't want to go to Andover for Whole Foods.
Maybe even a full sized Starbucks.

The new and improved Alpine Lanes II ? :< )

LA Fitness. We don't really have a good selection of gyms around here and that would be the perfect location for it!

Golden Corral would be nice or a Cheesecake Factory

I would like to see all the buildings but Friendly's leveled and a actual "Town Centre" built with food, shopping, place for kids, and the elderly to walk around. They have a awesome set up in Florida at The Village.

It should defiinitely be a place for teenagers to stay out of trouble and hangout. All workers should be teenagers and all people allowed there should be teenagers. There should be no drugs or drinking allowed and the youngest cops of the town should be placed on duty there. Call it Teen Center. There is nothing to do for teenagers anywhere in any town its a joke. The older greedy people forget about these kids. Its the forgotten group. They have no voice and no money. I am there voice even though I am 36. All profits should go to the Chelmsford Senior class for that year as cash payments to graduating seniors to help them start a business after High School.

Whole Foods or Trader Joe's. Please!

Does anyone know what is happening at CVS on Boston Road? The have fenced in a big area around it. I know that they are expanding, but is this the beginning of it?

I think friendy's has decades on their lease, CVS new building must be 20 years with options to renew and the bank must also have a long term lease. Figure S&S is getting a good return on these leases and if they have not applied for reduction on taxes for the empty buildings they will. I would not expect anything that would compete with the super CVS(under construction) or anything that would compete with the Super S & S to go in so it will just sit til the economy turns around or they get a great deal. I think it crappy but its the way things work with large corporations. It will join the large white building in the center trapped in limbo. Both needs to be fixed but anything happens in the next 5 years i would be surprised. Its not just S&S but S & S,Bank,CVS and Friendy's all on the same site and all with binding leases.

How do we communicate with the property owner, so that they know we have some ideas and would like to talk?

I like the idea of landscaping it a bit and making it more aesthetically pleasing. I also like the idea of at least one of the businesses being a bowling alley/pinball arcade kind of a place that has appeal for families, adults, and teens.

Any body have any clue what it going on in the parking lot now? A large section of it has been ring fenced and bulldozers have been pulling up pavement. I really hope this isn't simply to repave a parking lot that no one uses. Thanks.

I tend to agree wtih those comments that indicate that if S&S has a steady stream of income coming in on the property even though it is vacant and an eye soar for the town, I don't expect much to happen in the near term.

Love the Trade Joe's and/or Whole Foods but even just a satallite Stop & Shop would be helpful. Otherwise, I agree with comments of not introducing yet another retail shop. I'm all for a Kids Community Center. However, I would suggest involving the Middle and High School kids. Ask them for input on a business plan and reward them for their contribution by making it an extra-credit project of some kind. Parameters could be set to help formulate the plan. They'd have to show how it could be profitable, affordable, and bring in new members to prevent "clicks" etc. A parameter might include their having to work there occasionally, as a co-op (w/disabilities, experience, and allergies in mind). It might also include community service projects that include "town officials" (ie. fire, police, gov't etc.). Getting their input on what they'd like to see would help ensure success. They might like to see; video gaming area w/tournaments, maybe darts, indoor basketball, or music area to perform and/or lounge, food and drink (non-alcoholic mixed, healthy twists, junk food?), etc. Why not ask the kids and let THEM speak? They will be the one's living here and raising the next generation after all.....

Must be related to the New CVS building.. hey it hides the empty stores and makes it look like something is going on on the site.

Selfishly, I'd love to see affordable housing for the elderly.

Has anyone been to the Wayside Commons in Burlington, MA? Something along that idea with a green space/park with a hair salon/nail salon, speciality clothing, wedding/tux shop, H&R block financial services, cleaners, starbucks. The green space and park would be a great place to sit and enjoy a cup of coffee. A mini village of sorts.

One more time. The entire plaza area including S&S, Marshalls, Bank, Friendlys, & CVS is owned by a corporation with its base in the Netherlands. It is the mother company of Stop & Shop. It would not make ANY SENSE for them to allow another grocery store so close to the new S&S. CVS will be rebuilt in the recently fenced in area closer to Fishbones. The old building will be torn down. The TM has made the Town's wishes known to the Suits from S&S which would include a "Village" type project with mixed use. What a foreign corporation chooses to do in a small New England town is not known. We only hope that it will be a plan that we will be in agreement with.

Sue,
Thank you for the detail. Can you please confirm if the site has been rezoned under the new Master Plan to include the option of housing and office space? If so, have there been any discussions of 40B in this space? Finally, please take note of all the feedback from your fellow Chelmsford residents.

Fran,
just to be clear, mixed use should not include housing. We need to preserve our downtown area. It is the only thing setting us apart from Billerica these days. And the TM is once again, out of touch regarding the desires of Chelmsford residents (based on the responses here). If S&S was so afraid of competition, why did it MOVE across from Market Basket? That is an empty argument. I have to assume when S&S obtained approval to build the new store, we were able to negotiate conditions on what would happen with the existing site. If not ... that’s poor leadership. You negotiate when you have leverage.

Would love a Christmas Trre Shop and a Whole Foods but I know it will never happen. We will continue to have the eyesore there for many years!

Barbara, No you won't. You will have office space and 40B housing ...

A different eyesore in my opinion ...

Phil,
If this is true, then S&S would have little to worry about if Wholefoods or any other specialty store wanted to lease this space (not to mention they would enter into a long term lease which would likely cover any loss of revenue due to the limited competition).

Last thought before it is back to work.

When we approved the development of the new CVS, what requirements did we place on CVS to update the old location near Papa Ginos. Given that we already have a SUPER Walgreens and now a SUPER CVS, do we really need the 3rd site? What is the TM stance on this and what has he done to make sure that site is improved upon?

Jon,
Where do I go to see all of these ideas that have been proposed? I would like to see the documentation or emails.

Mark

Sue,
Thank you again for your informed response. Refreshing. However, all the more reason we need to keep the zoning as commercial on this site to thwart 40b. As for revitalizing, this isn't Cincinnati or Framingham. Again, this push to develop Chelmsford into an urban environment is misguided.

Mark raised an interesting question - when the new S&S site was approved, was there any conditions that they had to redevelop (or sell) the former site within a certain time frame? Is it possible to make these conditions...

Having been to the Golden Corral restaurants driving north from Florida, and having been to the Golden Corral in Springfield, the food was always very good and the place always had a good crowd of people. Definately a win win for both the restaurant chain, the customers, and finally the Chelmsford town coffers. Why haven't the Board of Selectmen been pushing for something like this??

A Dave & Busters would be great. Or a strip mall with stores like GAP/Old Navy, Sephora, a bakery, shoe store, and a restaurant. Chlemsford needs a few successful, nationally recognized stores in the center of town.

Comment Part 1
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I like the "Chelmsford Village" concept with less asphalt and more greens.
Technically, its "Lifestyle Retail" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lifestyle_center_(retail)
Agree with Peggy Dunn: "Why look like every other town in the country when we can be uniquely Chelmsford! " Lets get Chelmsford even higher than #28 on Money magazine ranking of the best places to live in US.
In my opinion, the renovation should have aims to:
1) Save driving time by bringing stores/facilities like B&N, YMCA etc. nearby.
2) Make Chelmsford even more desirable to live and work at - help raise property values.
3) Provide a relaxing, fun place for families to spend time.
4) Balance mix of amenities: grocery, bookstore, high end fast food restaurant (like Chipotle, Fuddruckers. No McD, Wendy's or the ilk please).

Comment Part 2
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With those aims in mind, here are my specific suggestions:
1. Make all parking underground
2. Landscape the entire area with stores set in a village setting with meandering walkways, lawns and area for small performances overground.
3. Stores: B&N with Starbucks inside, Chipotle, Jamba Juice etc.
4. Do Not open these stores: McD or ilk, Chuckecheese or ilk, Clothing store, Home goods store, any ice-cream shop -- basically avoid any store that is bad for health, is superfluous in the area, or cheapens the Chelmsford experience.

Planners can draw inspiration from some excellent lifestyle-center designs in midwest, west coast , north carolina etc. Here are two I have seen in person and liked:
1. The Shops at Friendly Center (Greensboro, North Carolina)
2. The Streets of Woodfield (Schaumburg, IL)

I would like to see "The Mill Store" at the Stop n Shop site. The closest one is too far, Nashua off exit 8!

I love the idea of asking the residents as what you prefer in terms of shops!
My order of priority:
1. Indoor play area for kids and adults especially during winter
2. Fitness center
3. Hair cuttery
4. Dollar tree

1. Whole Foods
2. Playground/park
3. Small bakery
4. Coffee shop
5. Think what would make people's life more pleasant.

Chelmsford center has really nothing to offer and that space would be perfect point to start.