Redevelopment gains traction in Ashland
Photo courtesy of Parsons Commercial Group
The 73,000-square foot building at 60 Pleasant St. in Ashland will be occupied by at least one new tenant, and the owner is searching for additional tenants, after the commercial warehouse building sold for $1.9 million earlier this month.
Ashland officials are celebrating the recent sale and future occupation of a formerly vacant warehouse building as a significant step toward achieving economic development goals.
Assistant Town Manager Michael Herbert said that while the town is not interested in expanding its commercial base, it’s important that tenants be found for under-utilized properties, like the building sold recently at 60 Pleasant St. for $1.9 million.
The sale was announced earlier this month. The new tenant, who has yet to be announced, will occupy some of the space, according to Herbert. Meanwhile, the new owner, Sixty Pleasant Realty LLC, is looking to lease an additional 50,000 square feet.
Bringing the 'right' business to town
Herbert said finding new uses for vacant commercial properties is just one element in the town’s four-pronged approach to economic development. Working with the Ashland Redevelopment Authority, he said town officials are focused on revitalizing the Pond Street corridor, connecting downtown to the nearby commuter rail station, recreating downtown as a true community focal point, and attracting and retaining business.
“We’re bringing in not necessarily more business, but bringing in the right businesses,” Herbert said of the overall strategy outlined in a draft urban renewal plan that was published by the Ashland Redevelopment Authority in 2012.
For example, Herbert said Ashland officials and residents don’t want to see the town converted into a “manufacturing powerhouse,” but he sees potential in creating downtown office space for small businesses, especially those that are home-based with owners interested in making the leap to an office. Herbert said one study the town was involved with showed that Ashland is home to a relatively large number of such businesses.
“If they need places to expand, we want to make sure we’re kind of tops on their list,” Herbert said.
Herbert, who has been working for the town for just shy of a year, said Ashland has a number of great resources but they’re rather spread out. For example, downtown is about a mile from the commuter rail station, which has room for 900 cars. A holistic approach to bringing those resources together is needed, according to Herbert, and cohesive urban design elements will further solidify Ashland’s identity.
“There is something to be said for consistency in design and aesthetics,” Herbert said.
That will be particularly important as Ashland looks to remake the Pond Street corridor along Route 126, which is home to a significant number of retail businesses but somewhat removed from other town centers. The town is currently working on a $375,000 redesign and hoping to get the stretch of Pond Street designated as part of the state transportation improvement plan, which Herbert said could lead to millions in funding for infrastructure improvements.
Herbert, Schiavi making strides
That may be a ways off, but Enzo Scalora, chairman of the Ashland Redevelopment Authority, is pleased with the economic development progress made under both Herbert and Town Manager Anthony Schiavi, also a recent addition to the administration at Town Hall.
Scalora said a particularly exciting development was the decision by SolarFlair Energy Inc., a company formerly based in Framingham, to relocate to a building close to 60 Pleasant St. SolarFlair is finishing a renovation of its new headquarters, according to Scalora.
“A lot of momentum has (been gained) in the last year,” Scalora said.
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