RE/MAX FIRST CHOICE GETS NEW CONDO PROJECT IN MARLBOROUGH,MASSACHUSETTS
Posted by ericappleton on September 22, 2010
Marlborough council panel backs condos at Corbin Plaza
City councilors last night strongly supported plans to turn a large vacant building on Pleasant Street into condos.
The City Council’s Urban Affairs Committee voted 5-0 to recommend approving a special permit application for the proposed development at the four-story building at 110-118 Pleasant St., commonly called Corbin Plaza.
The “Howe Shoe Factory Condominiums” would have 17 two-bedroom condos and one business office. The condos would likely cost between $220,000 and $230,000, said Stas Burdan, the developer who placed the high bid on the property at an auction earlier this month.
The developer previously converted St. Mary’s Church in Marlborough into condominiums. The 25 condos at the church, school and rectory all sold. The developer is also selling 11 townhouses next to the church.
“I was ecstatic when I heard you wanted to develop this,” Councilor Edward Clancy told the development team. “I’m very confident you will turn this into a first-class project.”
The project would be the next piece of a “quite significant” renaissance in the area, which also includes the Christopher Heights housing complex, said Councilor Robert Seymour.
The development team has proven itself, turning the closed St. Mary’s Church into vibrant homes, Councilor Patricia Pope said. The developer also responded well to concerns about the St. Mary’s project, Pope said.
The developer has met with several neighbors of the Pleasant Street property. Some families were very interested in the proposed development, Burdan said.
The building was the Howe Shoe Factory before it was Corbin Plaza, said attorney Arthur Bergeron, who represents the developer. The proposed development would give residents a chance to own a piece of history, Burdan said.
The property went on the auction block two other times in the last two years but remained vacant. The city foreclosed on the property in 2008 after the former landlord could not pay the back taxes.
“This building has been an eyesore for many, many years,” said Betty Rigney, of Franklin Street.
Knowing that the developer sold all the condos at St. Mary’s is comforting, Rigney said.
The City Council plans to vote on the special permit at its Monday meeting.
The developer placed the high bid of $356,000 – $1,000 more than the next highest bidder – on the building at a Sept. 2 auction. Since it was an auction sale, the closing date of Oct. 18 cannot be moved or the next highest bidder can challenge, Bergeron said.
The developer needs the special permit before it can get its funding in place.
Since the City Council is working with an expedited special permit process, the Urban Affairs Committee took resident feedback, which is normally reserved for the public hearing. The City Council will hold a public hearing on Monday and could make changes to the special permit conditions.
Burdan said his team intends to start working on the project right away. The developer would move its offices to the building.
“They’re planting their roots up on French Hill and that’s always good to see,” Councilor Paul Ferro said.
The project also needs to go through site plan review.
(Paul Crocetti can be reached at 508-490-7453 or pcrocett@cnc.com.)
