New Balance Planning Mixed-Use Development Near Boston

New Balance yesterday unveiled plans for a $250M mixed-use development in Brighton, Massachusetts, that "would feature a sports complex, hotel, park, movie theater, office buildings, and community space," according to Jenn Abelson of the BOSTON GLOBE. New Balance VP/Guest Street Planning & Development Ty Hanlan said that the "first phase of the project would cost roughly $100[M] and include a new building for New Balance with about 175,000 square feet, a sports complex with room for ice hockey, lacrosse, and soccer, along with the infrastructure needed for the development." Abelson notes New Balance "does not own any of the 15 acres on which the project is planned, but said it has been in talks for months with various property owners, as well as with state and city officials." About half of the acreage is already "under agreement for Lowe's to build a home improvement store." But the New Balance development plan "does not include Lowe's." Marathon Realty Corp. President David Wanger, whose company owns the land Lowe's is planning to build on, said that he has "tried to talk with New Balance about working together," but the company "has not expressed interest in doing so." Wanger: "We're not going to simply abandon our plans because New Balance has new ones" (BOSTON GLOBE, 2/25). B.L. Makepeace President William Joyce, whose company is located on the land where New Balance wants to build, said, "We talked last year and neither the price nor the arrangements were to our benefit. We appreciated the offer, but they were way below anything we consider reasonable" (BOSTON HERALD, 2/25).