(February 18, 2015 – Hometown Weekly)
BY JOE REARDON
Town Planner Nora Loughnane is confident that residents will be pleased with the upcoming opening of the 2.1 million square foot University Station development that will include shops, restaurants, a fitness club, and building and office space.
“I think people are looking forward to having somewhere close to home where they can shop and go out for dinner,” said Loughnane.
Greater Boston’s newest, major shopping destination is slated to open in March with some of the nation’s most popular stores, including Target, Marshalls/HomeGoods, Nordstrom Rack, Sports Authority, PetSmart, Michaels, ULTA Beauty, Kay Jewelers, Starbucks, Smashburger, Famous Footwear, Fidelity Investments, Dressbarn, David’s Bridal, Panera Bread, and Charming Charlie.
The March store openings signal the start of much more to come in 2015: additional stores and eateries, New England’s first Life Time Athletic, Gables Residential featuring 350 luxury apartments and Bridges by Epoch, a memory care facility. University Station will open its first tenants in the beginning of March, with the grand opening of Target on Sunday, March 8, 2015. University Station is located on University Avenue at Exit 13 on Route 128/I-95 and adjacent to the Route 128 MBTA Commuter Rail/Amtrak Station.
University Station is a 120-acre mixed-used development featuring an extensive mix of retailers, restaurants, recreation and residential housing, University Station will be a vibrant new community and gathering place. “We look forward to welcoming local and area residents to this new shopping destination,” said Douglass Karp, President of New England Development. “University Station will be an exciting new addition to Westwood and brings together a mix of popular stores, restaurants, housing, and more.”
New England Development is developing University Station with Eastern Real Estate and National Development. University Station will include 550,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space opening in 2015, including Wegmans, which was named, for the 16th year in a row, to Fortune magazine’s list of America’s Top 100 Companies to Work For, ranking fifth this year. The retail component will include fashion retailers, home goods and housewares, health and beauty, sporting goods and pet store, plus much more. The initial residential component of University Station will be two buildings containing 350 luxury apartment homes developed by The Hanover Company in partnership with Gables Residential (www.gables.com) opening in late spring 2015.
Additionally, Bridges by Epoch, an assisted living community developed as a joint venture between National Development and EPOCH Senior Living, will open a 64-unit assisted living residence specializing in memory care, this summer. Life Time Athletic Westwood, opening summer 2015, will offer an unparalleled experience through fitness programs and certified fitness professionals to support the health and fitness goals of our members.
This healthy way of life destination offers a full-service spa, a cafe that provides a healthy diet, nationally renowned group fitness instructors and personal trainers, an indoor cycling studio, and cutting-edge fitness equipment.
Future phases of University Station will include additional restaurant, hotel and office uses, and up to 300 additional residences.
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