Mary Eaton has a blog post that apparently confirms an item the Current had yesterday. The chain store Chico's is moving into the former Water Street lot that housed Newburyport Lighting.
To be honest, I'm not sure how I feel about this. On one hand, I've generally supported the idea of some chain stores coming to town. However, I didn't really have Chico's in mind when I was making those comments.
I'll refrain from saying much more until I actually see the store. UPDATE: Here's the link.
4 comments:
There aren't many clothing stores in that area, so chain or not, there won't be much to compete with. Besides, Chico's is hardly stereotypical as a business to steal away patrons from mom and pop stores. Even if it was, competition is healthy. Then again, I favor more big box retailers around Port Plaza to keep people shopping here and not going to Haverhill or Seabrook.
Speaking of Port Plaza, that might be a good area for some residential expansion above stores to add to the tax rolls. Might take 'infill' pressure off historical districts. Also maybe a small Comfort Inn type motel.
Interesting idea. I actually had the privilege of being a member of the planning board in my former town, Sutton, which remains a rural but increasingly suburban community. I got extremely excited when a developer come forward with so-called lifestyle center. Cafes. Small shops. Wide walkways. I thought, finally, someone will create a true center to the town, a place where I can walk the dog and enjoy a coffee. Unfortunately, the plan regressed into a standard shopping center when another lifestyle center opened a few miles up the highway. Where am I going with this? I'd suggested a mixed use project to the developer similar to the one you're suggesting. I didn't realize it at the time but I had downtown Newburyport in my mind. Shops, offices, apartment. Anyway, the idea didn't go far. Instead of small shops with a few anchors we were going to get a Lowe's. As for the residential units they did add a very tasteful residential complex in the back which would include some affordable (or workforce or living wage) housing. So some good came of it. That experience helped me realize that if I wanted to live in Newburyport, I'd have to live in Newburyport.
The idea of cafes, small shops, and wide walkways could come true in Newburyport if Inn Street is expanded in both directions: one to the right of NYAJoe's toward the river, and the other parallel to State Street toward the library. It's a long way off, but possible. That, or could the rail to bike trail idea near the MBTA station be turned into a bike trail sans pedestrian shopping road ala 16th Street in Denver?
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