The face of Wellesley changes each summer, with construction workers often putting in long hours while some residents are away. Here’s a quick spin through some of the changes underway:
*The St. James the Great church building isn’t long for this world. Fencing has gone up around the church, whose parishioners held vigils for 7-plus years before ending the stay in 2012 as the archdiocese sold off its property to Wellesley.
According to Kathy Mullaney, projects administrator at the Wellesley Permanent Building Committee, “The interior and exterior abatement is starting now. That will take several weeks. We will be getting an updated schedule soon… The building is coming down slowly – starting from the rear and working towards the front (Rt 9).”
The 900 Worcester St. Committee looking at aquatics facility proposals at the Rte. 9 property is due to meet shortly with the Board of Selectmen.
*Residential units (“Wellesley Place Residences” is what the sign on the fence says) are under construction behind the Dunkin’ Donuts building on Rte. 9 East in Wellesley. So the people who snap up these apartments or condos are not only going to have easy access to donuts and CVS, but apparently also will get pretty amazing cell phone reception judging from the tower looming there. Wellesley Planning Directer Michael Zehner says the 978 Worcester St., project that contains the Dunkin’ Donuts shop was originally permitted in 2008/2009, for a commercial building up front (24,000 sq. ft. retail and office), and a 36-unit residential building in the rear (36,000 sq. ft. total). “The commercial building was obviously constructed first,” he says. “The residential building did not break ground until earlier this year when the new owner acquired the property. We understand that construction will be completed towards the end of this year.”
*Wellesley Square gets a makeover, as AVA moves in and other stores come and go.
That is a Sprint cell phone tower