Woburn Wants Input On Commerce Way Makeover

WOBURN, MA -- The City of Woburn and the Metropolitan Area Planning Council will give a presentation on the proposed redevelopment of Commerce Way between the Anderson Regional Transportation Center and the Woburn Mall on February 26 at Woburn High School. There will be a reception at 6 followed by the presentation at 6:30. The purpose of the forum is to gather public input on the type of development that should go in the area near the junction of Routes 93 and 128.

In September, Woburn officials gave the go-ahead for two studies that could be the first step in giving the Woburn Mall a makeover and spark development adjacent to the Anderson Regional Transportation Center near Commerce Way. While the Woburn Mall is seen as a tired also-ran buckling under pressure from nearby destination shopping centers in Burlington and Lynnfield, the transportation center has never lived up to its potential of generating economic growth.

The two studies are being conducted by the Metropolitan Area Planning Council. Woburn Mayor Scott Galvin and Planning Director Tina Cassidy outlined the studies to City Council last year. Galvin cautioned that the study was a first step and that there was "no need to rush" any proposed new development in the area.

The city has already approved new housing development in the area. Cassidy said the studies would look for ways to increase mixed use development in the area while minimizing traffic impacts. She said the study looking at the area near the transportation center may consider building a bridge over the railroad tracks that could make it easier for companies on Presidential Way to attract employees who could commute by bus and commuter rail.

"I think most people would agree the transportation center has been under-utilized," Galvin said.

Edens, a South Carolina-based development firm, bought the Woburn Mall for $44 million last year. The purchase renewed speculation that the site would be redeveloped to better compete with other regional shopping centers along Route 128, including the Burlington Mall and the newer MarketStreet mixed-use development in Lynnfield.

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Patch file photo.

Dave Copeland can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).