An artist´s rendering of Legacy Place in Dedham, which is scheduled to open in about a year. By Michele Morgan Bolton
Globe Correspondent / July 20, 2008
Globe Correspondent / July 20, 2008
DEDHAM - Construction will begin next month on the Legacy Place shopping center, and already nearly all the retail space in the development is spoken for, according to a spokesman for one of the developers.
Brian Sciera, vice president of Lifestyle Centers at WS Development, a developer working with owner National Amusements, said that Legacy Place has already leased 95 percent of its available space, which includes about 80 retail stores and five restaurants.
That is almost unheard of in this economic climate, he said.
Stores will include a 60,000-square-foot Whole Foods Market; a 30,000-square-foot, two-level L.L. Bean store, a Borders bookstore, Legal Sea Foods, and a spectrum of other businesses as well as another anchor, Showcase Cinema de Lux, a 15-screen theater with in-seat dining and a lounge.
Legacy Place, which will total 675,000 square feet, is expected to open in about a year.
"We have already started the foundations and steel will start flying in August," said Sciera.
"We have already closed in financing because of how leased we are and because of the shape we are in," Sciera said.
Sciera was diplomatic when questioned about how, or if, neighboring Westwood Station´s anticipated 4.5 million square feet of retail, office and housing space may affect business.
"We´ve just been focusing on our own project and playing the offensive," he said.
"We´re excited about what we are doing . . . and we´ll start delivering space to tenants in the spring, who will start building their stores, and we´ll be open about a year from now."
Work on what´s called Building A, which can be seen from Route 1, backing up to Costco, is first, Sciera said. That building will include a three-level parking garage above it, he said. And workers have begun to straighten Enterprise Drive, one of two major entrances, he said.
"I think the fact they are 95 percent leased is a very important sign for the success of this project over the long term," said Dedham Town Administrator Bill Keegan.
"While there have been some limited inconveniences caused by construction, we are pleased to see the project appears to be moving forward on schedule."
Westwood Selectman Nancy Hyde doesn´t see Legacy Place as a problem for Westwood Station, which will have many of the same types of offerings.
"I believe there is enough depth in the market to support it," she said.
"The fact is, they are moving forward. And we are moving forward."
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