Photo | Samuels & Associates
A Boston developer proposed plans for a life sciences campus at the former BJ's headquarters in Westborough.
April 21, 2022
Boston developer proposes 68-acre life sciences campus at BJ's former Westborough headquarters
Photo | Grant Welker
BJ's Wholesale Club former headquarters in Westborough
By Katherine Hamilton
Samuels & Associates, a Boston-based real estate developer, is proposing a four-building life sciences park at the former BJ’s Wholesale Club headquarters in Westborough.
At a select board meeting on April 12, the firm laid out plans for complete demolition of the current buildings at 25 and 29 Research Drive, which were the headquarters for BJ’s up until a year ago when the retail company announced it would move to Marlborough.
The proposed project would include four buildings grossing 715,000 square feet to be used for life sciences, laboratory, manufacturing, and office space, said Mike Fitzpatrick, senior vice president of development at Samuels & Associates, in the meeting.
Samuels' plans for the site were first reported by the Community Advocate.
Three of the new proposed buildings would range from 200,000 to 270,000 square feet, and the fourth building would be 10,000 square feet used for amenity space for the park’s tenants. The campus would also include 1,415 parking spaces and landscaping improvements connecting to the Walkup and Robinson Memorial Reservation trails in Westborough.
The site includes two parcels totaling 68 acres along Research Drive. The parcel at 25 Research Dr., which was formerly used by BJ’s, includes a six-story building and a two-story building containing about 270,000 square feet. The second parcel at 29 Research Dr. includes four small buildings occupied by Triboro Crane & Rigging Services.
All the buildings, along with the utility infrastructure, at the two properties would be demolished under the proposed redevelopment, Fitzpatrick said.
“The existing buildings on both lots are outdated and inefficient, making them difficult to attract tenants and talent to this location once the existing tenants vacate,” the proposal from Samuels & Associates read.
The two parcels are assessed by the Town of Westborough at a total of $25.8 million. The 25 Research Dr. property is owned by an entity registered to Fortress Investment Group, which is based in New York City and bought the property in 2019 for $33 million. Triboro has owned the 29 Research Dr. property since 2019 when it bought it for $2.75 million.
The project will now go before the Westborough planning board to seek site plan approval. Review is slated for the planning board’s April 26 hearing.
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