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CitySquare II seeks to amend site plan
03.17.2010
CitySquare revamp advancing
Board will be asked to revise original site plan on mall
By Nick Kotsopoulos TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF
WORCESTER — The developer waiting in the wings to take over the long-stalled CitySquare redevelopment project has filed a petition with the Planning Board, seeking an amendment to the site plan that was originally approved for the project in July 2005 when Berkeley Investments Inc. was its developer.
City Manager Michael V. O’Brien said the intent of the amendment is to subdivide the 20-acre downtown development area, separating the buildings that Berkeley will be retaining ownership of within the project site from the property to be developed by CitySquare II Development Co. LLC.
Mr. O'Brien informed the City Council last month that property and casualty insurer Hanover Insurance Group Inc. has signed a purchase-and-sale agreement with Berkeley Investments Inc. to become the new developer of the $563 million downtown redevelopment project.
By subdividing parcels, it would effectively create a “firewall” between the Berkeley and Hanover interests, so neither party would be impacted by what might happen to the other.
Mr. O’Brien said Hanover wants to have the amendment to the site plan approved before going through with the acquisition.
The Planning Board has scheduled a public hearing on the petition for 5:30 p.m. April 14 in the Levi Lincoln chamber at City Hall.
CitySquare II Development Co. was formed in January and is managed by LM Administrative LLC, which is affiliated with the real estate company Leggat McCall Properties LLC, according to documents filed with the Massachusetts secretary of state and the Worcester Planning Board. Leggat McCall, based in Boston, develops properties on its own and on behalf of clients.
Berkeley Investments, which took on the CitySquare project six years ago, will retain ownership of the two office towers on Front Street and the parking garage at Commercial and Foster streets.
CitySquare II, meanwhile, will acquire the developable parcels of CitySquare, which include the former Worcester Common Outlets mall and about half of the parking garage along Foster Street, both of which will be razed to clear the way for CitySquare.