Two-Story Retail and Residential Building Planned for South Ave. West

At its meeting held Monday, June 4, the Westfield Planning Board approved plans for a two-story building that will include ground-level retail space as well as seven apartments above the storefronts.  

The building will be constructed in the former location of  and the five other businesses that were destroyed in a  in late January. 

The proposed building could allow for six retail shops or one large space depending on the needs of interested business owners. At this time it is unknown which, if any, of the former retailers are considering returning to the South Avenue West location. The residential portion will include five, one-bedroom and two, two-bedroom apartments. The property has been owned by William Root since the late 1960s and the building will bear his name as well as a large clock above its entrance. 

When in January following the fire, he said it was his intention to rebuild. 

According to Sherry Cronin, executive director of the , the minutes from the planning board meeting need to be approved and the appeal period –typically 45 days—needs to expire "before they can pull building permits to get started."

"The DWC Design Committee appreciated the opportunity to work with the Roots, Potter Architects and the Planning Board members to collaborate on the design," Cronin said. "We think it is going to be a great new entrance to the South Avenue business district. The DWC and our Design Committee, chaired by Peg Lockwood, was pleased to be able to work directly with the owners and architect to provide our feedback on the design and architecture of the building.

"This redevelopment is exactly the type of development we should be encouraging with retail/restaurant use on the first floor and residential above especially in close proximity to the train station. Even though the original one-story building was unfortunately destroyed by fire, this is an opportunity for the owners to build a building which fits into the architecture of the town, meets their investment objectives, meets modern building codes, provides desirable housing, and will last for many generations to come."

“I love the new design - think it's exactly the type of development Westfield should encourage - and so happy to have owners and an architect that were so supportive - wonderful to work with throughout this process,” Lockwood said.