Amherst Plaza May Rise Again

Charles River Realty is planning to build a new Goodwill store, bank and retail business on former location of the Amherst Plaza, which has been vacant for three years after a terrible fire.

A representative presented the Amherst Planning Board with a conceptual design for the property at their meeting on Wednesday.

Located at 131 Route 101A, between Dunkin Donuts and Carriage Depot, the redevelopment will take down the existing buildings and add three buildings on top of complete renovations of the property.

The Goodwill store will be the largest at a planned 17,100 square feet, with the other two businesses, which have no users at this point, to be around 3,000 square feet.

Board member Gordon Leedy suggested reducing the parking on the property and adding more landscaped areas to the plans.

The board also said to consider traffic increase, lighting and signage as they plan this new development.

Board member Michael Dell Orfano suggested increasing the setback and to consider a method to slow any spillage, since the property lies above an aquifer.

A four-alarm fire in June, 2008 ignited the dozen businesses that used to call the Amherst Plaza home.

The shopping center had a diverse selection prior to the fire, including A&E Custom Coffee, Amherst House of Pizza, Dollar Wise, Lotus Nails, The Little Quilt Shop. Some moved to other locations in town, while others did not reopen.

The presentation was part of an informal discussion to introduce the idea to the Planning Board to get feedback. An official application may be down the line, but no date was discussed.

After three years of having to see the property remain uncared for, many in town are glad to see development in the works.

“It is nice to see something,” said Board Chair Arnold Rosenblatt.