Promising Future Awaits Applewood Golf Links Property

A terrific future awaits for the 28.36-acre parcel of state land located at the intersection of Routes 111 and 111a, according to commercial realtor Harry Shea of Shea Commercial Properties.

Shea is the real estate broker representing the state on the property, currently being valued at close to $3.4 million.

"What I see (on that property), this is a gateway to Windham," said Shea. "Because what happens is you come off I-93, let's say you're going north now, you make a right, you've got the Mobil, the McDonald's and this piece of property. My thought is you want to do something really, really nice over there.

The property was formerly leased by Applewood Golf Links, although the nine-hole golf course and driving range vacated for good in late 2012.

In the past several months, Shea has fields a number of inquiries on the property.

About three months ago, three different companies were bidding on the property, he said.

In total, there have been between 10 and 12 inquiries on the site.

"I've played with it – easily you could wind up with a $50 million project for developments over there," said Shea.

Suitors have come in exploring medical options on the site, from offices to major medical uses ranging from 30,000 to 50,000 square foot buildings. A most recent exploration into the site was for a natural foods business combined with a mix of other retail and office space.

There are currently nine acres on the backside of the property zoned for residential.

He said that straight retail use on the site is unlikely, as Windham historically prefers not to have big box users. The existing zoning is also business technology.

Shea explained that many of the companies they have been working with on the property are regional, so if the site does not meet their parameters, they've got the whole region to work with.

The decision on a traffic light at the Route 111/111a intersection could be make or break for the property, according to Shea.

He said the last three suitors who looked into the property would simply go elsewhere if the current signal at that intersection doesn't remain through the construction projects in Windham related to the widening of Interstate 93.

In 2015, a new Route 111a is planned to run behind the existing Country Shoppes plaza, and current plans are to remove the traffic light at the 111/111a intersection.

The Board of Selectmen has yet to make a final decision on the matter.

"If the light goes away, the site can be developed, however it means that (drivers) have to take a different route to get out to I-93," said Shea. "What I see happening there (on the property) if the light goes away, I think you wind up with a different mix on the property. The ability to do retail over there would be non-existent.

Shea suggested that industrial, manufacturing or research and development uses all don't mind going into the property at "not the most direct route."

Other property and business owners have sounded off on the issue, with many against the light's removal while some believe their investments hav been shaped based on the notion that the signal would be removed as decided by a former Board of Selectmen over 10 years ago.

Shea worries that another golf course will wind up on the property, which will diminish the value of that space in tow.

"I'm trying to open up some eyes over there in Windham to get them to see the advantages of the site that they have and put it to the best use so they maximize the value and get a nice tax base. Why put something on there for $2 million when you can put $50 million or $100 million? I'm not saying crowd it. I'm saying put something on there that is really, really nice."

Shea just finished up work on Medicus Healthcare Solutions on 22 Roulston Road, which he said took a property occupied by a run-down, single family home and turned it into 250-employee high-value building.

"It's a wonderful use of the property, a dymanic building," he said.

He sees a similar strategy for the state-owned site on Range Road, and thinks that it can be turned over into something great for the Gateway District.

Should Shea ink a developer, he said that the Windham Planning Board approval could take anywhere from six months to eight months.