Kmart Plaza to get a new look after Holyoke City Council approves demolition plans

Cypress Equities Managing Partner Don Bouvier (left) and Attorney Daniel Glissman from MacDermid Reynolds & Glissman, P.C. talked to the DGR Committee about the plans for the vacant Kmart Plaza at 2201 Northampton St.
Photo credit: Holyoke Media

HOLYOKE — Kmart Plaza may soon have new tenants and a fresh look after Mayor Joshua Garcia announced the developer’s plan for the space at 2201 Northampton St.

During the May 19 City Council meeting, the body granted a Special Permit authorizing the demolition of the long-vacant building at the Kmart site.

Garcia was also at the meeting to give his State of the City address, which introduced the developer, Don Bouvier, managing director of development at Cypress Equities, who discussed the plans.

Garcia said Bouvier is the project lead for the entire redevelopment of the shopping center. Attorney Daniel Glissman from MacDermid Reynolds & Glissman, P.C and Bouvier was at the May 18 Development and Governmental Relations Committee to present the project on behalf of the applicant.

Glissman said his client intends to make a multi-million dollar investment and proposal for the K-Mart Plaza.

Bouvier added that his team has been studying this property for close to a year. He explained that his company features retail developers who will look to tear the plaza down and “build back something that’s better than what’s there today to hopefully give this shopping center a lift.”

Garcia said the applicant is committed to removing this longstanding blight and replacing it with a first-in-class building designed to attract quality anchor tenants. The hope is to completely revitalize the site and plaza, and improve appearance, functionality, safety and long-term viability while encouraging future investment in the area.

Glissman said, “Not only will this project significantly improve this site by eliminating this non-conformity, but it will also improve site security and safety, as well as significantly improve the general aesthetics of the site and the neighborhood,” Glissman stated.

Glissman also explained that when the building is eventually demolished, Cypress Equities will treat and restore the façade of the existing retail plaza so that it is consistent with the current adjacent retail plaza.

Bouvier said that the company’s desire is to acquire both parcels and make them one property. He added he has been talking to the owner about a future purchase, and the owner has no problems with the demolition or proposed plans.

According to an initial timeline, demolition will take place around December with a 60-day demolition window and a construction period to follow.

The special permit approval clears the way for the transformative redevelopment on the property, which Garcia said the city has been waiting for.

“This is a huge deal — a chance to bring in more tax revenue from a property that has sat vacant for far too long,” Garcia stated. “These are signs of a city on the right track. Businesses and developers wanting to set up shop. And they’re the result of effective zoning, a responsive local government and our city’s competitive advantages.”

Many city councilors expressed their support for the project. City Council President Tessa Murphy-Romboletti joked that this is a rare time that she has seen the full council in favor of something so much, and called it “refreshing.”

City Councilor Richard Purcell, who chairs the Development and Governmental Relations Committee, said the committee unanimously approved the special permit without any “large” debate.

Purcell said that Glissman, “checked all the boxes and gave a great presentation.” The DGR Committee hosted a public hearing for the special permit on May 18, where Glissman and Bouvier shared the plans.

Ward 5 City Councilor Linda Vacon spoke in support of the special permit and about the importance of this project, which will take place in her ward.

“In my number of years on the council, I want to say I think this is one of the most exciting developments that we have had in a really, really long time,” Vacon said. “It’s going to help a blighted property that we’ve all been looking at and trying to reach out and find people to develop. I think it’s extremely exciting. Welcome to Holyoke, to Don Bouvier and his team.”

City Councilors Patti Devine and Juan Anderson-Burgos echoed Vacon’s support.

Anderson-Burgos said, “It always drove me nuts that that plaza has so much opportunity, and now, we finally have a developer. I’m 100% happy.”
The City Council unanimously approved the special permit. Bouvier said there are limitations to what he can and can’t say at this time because the plan is still in its early stages, but he called the approval “a very key step in order to get to the next step involved.”

Any future site plans and construction plans must be reviewed by the city.