ROXBURY—A groundbreaking date has been set for the redevelopment of the old Ferdinand's department store in Dudley Square: Next weekend! "The city hopes to complete the project by 2014 and then relocate the Boston School Department’s headquarters and its more than 450 school administration staff to the site in an effort to help revitalize the heart of Roxbury and regain the trust of its residents, who on multiple occasions have seen public officials renege promises for redevelopment there." [Boston.com]
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HUB-WIDE—Broker Bill Janovitz has some thoughts on the mild winter and its effects on Arlington, Lexington, Newton and Belmont: "Of all the towns combined, only 100 houses came on the market in total between January 1 and February 21. So, even when factoring in listings that came on in recent weeks, about half have accepted offers." [Boston Daily]
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ALLSTON/BRIGHTON—New Balance has big plans for one of the city's biggest development sites: "Along the large underdeveloped prime stretch of real estate in Brighton at 77 Guest St., and across the road 38-180 Guest St., which sits adjacent to the Massachusetts Turnpike’s eastbound side, the company intends for its mixed-use development to create a 'health and wellness district' that will overtake an area currently occupied by surface parking lots and low-level warehouse buildings." [Boston.com]
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SOMERVILLE—Walmart wants to put its first grocery-pharmacy in New England in the town's giant Assembly Square development: "The store would be located in the space formerly occupied by Circuit City, next to The Home Depot. ... A coalition of community groups in Somerville has voiced strong opposition to the proposed store, citing in particular concerns that the company would not pay fair wages to its employees." [Boston.com]
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CAMBRIDGE—There's only one more weekend of having to take shuttle buses north of Harvard Square. Something, something Linsanity. [The Hub]