Barnstable Officials Expect Developer Interest in CapeTown Plaza

HYANNIS – Officials in Barnstable expect the redevelopment of the CapeTown Plaza on Route 132 in Hyannis to generate a lot of interest.

The 26-acre property, also known as the “Kmart Plaza,” which is owned by the town and controlled by the airport generates $70,000 a year and has six years remaining on the current 50-year lease.

The town has issued a Request for Proposal for a “mixed-use” development that will consider retail uncertainties, housing and economic development and is accepting submissions through August 31.

“This 26 acres is going to really set the tone for that area for the next 50 years because whatever goes in there is going to help shape that concentrated commercial sector,” said David Anthony, the town’s director of Property and Risk Management.

The Hyannis corridor of Route 132 will see dramatic changes over the next several years. Last week, Target announced its arrival in the Cape Cod Mall taking the spot currently occupied by Sears.

“Changes across the street from that at this plaza really are going to help shape that 132 corridor and the vision that the Planning Department has,” Anthony said.

Anthony said increasing the revenue for the airport generated from the redevelopment of the plaza is one of the factors that will be considering when choosing a project.

“I think the town and the airport are working together to try to maximize their return, but also trying to help shape what’s going to happens in the future with commercial [spaces],” he said.

Brick and mortar store are seeing challenges continue to grow from online retailers, including Amazon. Hyannis recently lost a Toys R Us which closed its doors for good last month after the company filed for bankruptcy. With the Target announcement, another major big box retailer, Sears will be leaving Hyannis.

“We’re trying to position this property to be able to take advantage of what people think would work moving forward,” Anthony said. “Amazon and other online retailers and some of the issues they are dealing with are going to impact brick and mortar stores here in Hyannis and we want to try to stay in front of it.”

The RFP documents are available on the town’s website and Anthony said a number of high profile developers and attorneys have taken out those documents.

“I think we are going to get some keen interest,” Anthony said. “Now whether or not that shows up in proposals, we’ll have to see on August 31.”

The documents are under the “Doing Business” tab at www.town.barnstable.ma.us.

After a review of submitted proposals, the Airport Commission and the Town Manager are expected to make a decision by the end of the year.

The new lease would begin in 2024.

If the current leaseholder, WS Development, submits a proposal and is chosen, they would be able to start redevelopment as soon as possible.

Another chosen developer would be able to negotiate a buyout with WS Development for the remainder of the existing lease.

By BRIAN MERCHANT, CapeCod.com NewsCenter

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