WESTFIELD – Westfield is showing signs of recovery from the Great Recession as several new commercial ventures have come to the city and groundwork put in place for several other projects during 2011.
The state Economic Assistance Coordinating Council voted in September to approve three tax incentive financing (TIF) packages for projects proposed in Westfield.
The EACC, which oversees the state’s investment tax credit program, voted to approve the TIF packages for Gulfstream Aerospace Service Corporation; Seal Ryt Corporation; and the Armbrook Senior Living, LLC.
The three projects will collectively create more than 150 full-time and 100 part-time jobs, and increase the city’s commercial tax base.
City Advance Officer Jeff Daley said that a California-based high technology business, founded by a western Massachusetts native, was relocated to Coleman Avenue recently.
“The city’s primary focus in 2012 will be to continue to work to keep businesses here, as well as bringing new businesses into the city,” Daley said Thursday.
“Retail is coming back a little” with the opening of the Five Guys Burger and Fries and Emma’s Everyday Gourmet restaurants on East Main Street and Washington Street respectively, and Mama Cakes on Elm Street, Daley said.
Two major road reconstruction projects will be completed during 2012 which may further stimulate commercial investment in the city’s core district.
Daley said that the city has identified three goals during 2011, to accomplish during 2012. Those goals include moving the Elm Street redevelopment project forward, beginning the process of developing the Turnpike Industrial Road technology park and initiating plans for a new industrial park in the northeast corner of Barnes Regional Airport.
The City Council recently authorized Mayor Daniel M. Knapik to sign a memorandum of understanding with the Pioneer Valley Transit Authority to conduct a feasibility study of a commercial project at the corner of Elm and Arnold streets using state and federal transportation funds. Daley said that the city is revising an existing urban renewal plan in conjunction with the Elm Street project.
The City Council also changed the zoning of 66 acres of city owned land located between Turnpike Industrial Park Road and Cabot Road from Rural Residential to Industrial A zoning to allow development of the technology park.
“We’re starting to move forward on that project,” Daley said. “City officials are meeting with Mass Development in January to being defining the scope of the urban renewal plan for that project, defining what kind of businesses will be allowed into the park and, as an end project, developing a financial plan.”
The airport park project will begin next summer with reconstruction of Airport Industrial Road which will provide access to airport owned land. Daley said that the former Whip City Speedway and the sandpit across the road will be the focus of that project which could result in development of between one million and 1.5 million square feet of new industrial capacity in the city.
“We’re seeing growth in other areas as well,” Daley said. “There has been growth in the number of small retails shops, home-based businesses which, hopefully, will continue to grown and evolve.”
