A number of developments certain to change the face of three neighborhoods are now nearly ready to open or are at the beginning of the planning stage.
The largest of the three projects is an anticipated 238 – unit market rate development on Sixth Street on the site of the former Thomas Strahan wallpaper manufacturing plant – a large empty piece of land that runs parallel to Route 1.
City officials say the former industrial site has been cleared and approved for development and that permitting has begun.
However, city officials pointed out, it is a long way from the beginning of the permitting process to breaking ground for the project.
The second major development is the coming of the AJ Wright Store at the Marketbasket Mall, in the former Marketbasket building which is expected to house a number of businesses when completed.
AJ Wright is expected to open on October 28.
The Webster Block project at the corner of Webster Avenue and Eastern Avenue is coming along quickly as can be seen by drivers passing by.
This is a large and impressive project taking a largely underutilized piece of land that once housed an ancient factory operation in an outdated space, which was ripped down recently and is turning it into 120 market rate rental units.
This project came with a shot in the arm from Governor Deval Patrick, whose administration gave a grant of $500,000 for necessary public infrastructure without which the project would not have materialized.
It will finish up as a four-story building with some architectural integrity.
Pilings are being driven on the space right now.