In Mass., mall to be replaced by distribution center

Greendale Mall in Worcester could serve as the poster child for COVID-19’s acceleration of online shopping and demand for merchandise fulfillment services.

The new owners of the 309,000-sq.-ft. mall that opened in 1987 on Neponset Street in Central Massachusetts’ largest city has filed plans to demolish it and replace it with a 121,212-sq.-ft. distribution center.

When it acquired Greendale last year for $7.1 million, Finard Properties had plans for building a new mixed-use project on the site. Now, however, increased demand for product fulfillment moved the new owner to submit an application for the DC to the Worcester Planning Board.

"There is a positive trending in industrial warehouse and biotech segments when comparing this year against next year, and we expect these segments to see positive adjustments," City Assessor Samuel Konieczny told the Worcester Telegram & Gazette.

Retail, office, and restaurant, meanwhile, looks to be declining in Worcester through 2022, Konienczy added.

The towns Planning Board is scheduled to discuss the new application at its Dec. 9 meeting.