A building that once housed a Building 19 discount-retail outlet is being converted to self-storage in Norwood, Mass. Developer GRE Norwood LLC was able to file construction permits without approval from the city’s planning board because self-storage is an approved use in the manufacturing district, the source reported. The facility at 1450 Boston-Providence Highway could open in late spring, according to Andrew Leclerc, a project manager with Reynolds Construction Services Inc., which is working on the project.
“They’re pretty much gutting it out. They’re upgrading all the plumbing and electrical inside,” Mark Chubet, city building inspector, told the source. “All this work is being done within the existing footprint.” Building permits were pulled on Oct. 21, he said.
The facility design includes improvements to the building’s exterior. Crews are currently working on the roof. “So far, so good. Luckily for us, the weather has held out,” Leclerc told the source. “We’ve been able to make good progress.”
Building 19 filed for bankruptcy in 2013, closing its 13 stores. The Norwood location re-opened as The Rug Department but closed in January, according to the source.
