A proposed 31-acre, mixed-use development located off I-93 would offer a retail marketplace and inclusive residential living options, if the developer can obtain the needed variances.
The proposed development, Arena Square, would be located at 102 Indian Rock Road and 82 Range Road, on land owned by Nick Arena, president of Middlesex Glass Company.
A rendering of the proposed development at 102 Indian Rock Road and 82 Range Road, Windham, to include a marketplace and apartments. (Courtesy of Arena Square LLC)
Arena hopes to use the land to create a marketplace and residential area akin to Market Street in Lynnfield.
“I purchased the land a couple years ago, and I had the idea to bring a mixed-use development to the table. It came to be from some of the successful projects I’ve seen in Massachusetts, and I just thought it would be a really terrific location for it,” he said.
The development would include 12 retail buildings with roughly 25-30 tenants, including a grocery store and up to 350 apartments.
A portion of the apartments would be dedicated to workforce housing, offering discounted rent to local employees.
“We planned for 350 residential units, of the 350 we had 10% workforce housing that would accommodate Windham school teachers, firefighters and police officers, etc. at a lowered rate of rent,” Arena said.
Arena said this residential complex would provide an opportunity for people unable to afford a home to live in Windham.
“Lots of hardworking folks are unable to even attain a single-family home in the current economic climate. In my opinion, we have a housing crisis and this project aims to put a dent in that crisis while adding some commercial businesses to bolster the town’s taxes,” he said.
However, the town denied a request for the residential area. So, Arena Square requested a rehearing, which must be entertained by June 22.
“Unfortunately, the Town of Windham denied the variance request to allow residential use in that applicable zone. So, we’re appealing that denial and hope that the town will eventually see the benefit that the project will have by adding, in my opinion, desperately needed diversity to its housing stock,” he said.
Despite the denial, Arena said he has received positive feedback from a number of residents and business owners.
“We’ve heard a lot of residents that want it. I think there’s some great momentum in the town from a good portion of the residents to want the development. But there seems to be a group that is fighting any development in the town and those are the ones who tend to show up the most, unfortunately,” he said.
While the retail portion of the development was granted preliminary approval, vendors are hesitant to commit to joining the marketplace before the residential space is approved.
“We do have a lot of retail interest, but they are waiting for the mixed-use component to be solidified before they move forward, and that is very common nowadays,” Arena said.
If the appeal is unsuccessful in Windham, Arena Square will appeal to the State Housing Appeals Board or Superior Court to override the denial.
If the residential area is ultimately not allowed to be built, it may jeopardize the entire project, according to Arena.
“Right now, we really need the residential to make it work,” he said.
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