The Boston Globe from Boston, Massachusetts • 23

South 9 THE BOSTON SUNDAY GLOBE MARCH 1,1998 Mega-mall developer 'an entertainment company' Business Notebook i 1 A 1 T'K IS "A tertainment components, including such attractions as American Wilderness Experience, with its "biomes" featuring live animals in simulated natural habitats; Rainforest Cafes, where "animatronic" plants and animals talk to you while you eat; and SEGA Gameworks centers built around interactive computer games. They also have movie me-gaplexes of up to 30 screens and as many as two dozen restaurants in addition to food courts. Each mall has its own audiovisual complex that allows smaller retailers to make their own video commercials, which are broadcast continuously on an in-house TV system, along with commercials of larger retailers. Beginning with Potomac Mills south of Washington, D.C., which opened in the mid-'80s, the publicly traded Mills Corp. has developed malls in such metropolitan areas as Philadelphia-Wilmington, Miami-Fort Lauderdale, Chicago-Milwaukee, Los Angeles, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, and Tempe, Ariz.

The malls are the size of 35-40 football fields, but arranged in a one-story oval with color-coordinated shopping "neighborhoods" and themed entrances. The anchor stores are off-price retailers or off-price outlets such as Saks' Off-5th, Virgin Records, TJ.Maxx, Donna Karan Company Store, Nautica as many as 200 specialty shops in all. Collazo said a South Weymouth mall could be expected to attract up to 25,000 vehicles on a weekend day. By Jeff McLaughlin GLOBE STAFF The Mills Corp. of Arlington, which is interested in building a "mega-" or "super-regional" mall at the decommissioned South Weymouth Naval Air Station sitei is finding success in the '90s despite the widespread view in the business world that the United States already has more than enough shopping malls.

"We're different," said Mills Corp. vice president Erick Collazo in an interview last week. "We're an entertainment company, an entertainment company that builds malls. We appeal to the entire family, and a visit to one of our malls isn't just about shopping per se, which is why we attract people from up to 40 or 50 miles away." A regional mall, such as those in Braintree and Kingston, typically attracts customers from a 12-mile radius, who stay for about 45 minutes and spend Collazo said. The Mills Corp.

malls draw customers from a 50-mile radius, who stay four hours on average and spend $375, he said. In effect, they are tourist attractions the Sawgrass Mills mall, for example, is Florida's second-biggest attraction, trailing only Disney World in number of visitors annually. The key is the mix a blend of elements drawn from traditional regional malls, factory outlets, and theme parks. Mills Corp. malls incorporate en Erick Collazo (left) and Terence Fitzgerald, Mills Corp.

vice presidents, discuss the firm's plans for a mega-mall at the air base site. Mixed-use base proposal up 1 JZZ Route 128 station is meeting topic The rising concerns of local officials about the traffic impact of the proposed $43.2 million Route 128 railroad station will be debated at two upcoming meetings, the first tomorrow in Congressman J. Joseph Moakley's Boston office. The other will be on March 10 at the Norwood offices of the Neponset Valley Chamber of Commerce. The station is in Westwood as well as portions of Dedham, Canton, and Norwood.

These meetings come at a pivotal time. The Massachusetts Bay Trans portation Authority planso start construction this summer on half of a parking garage, designed to accommodate 1,100 cars, or 300 more than can be handled now by the station's outdoor lot, said Stephen Silveira, who is directing the 128 station expansion for the MBTA. The 10-month parking garage project is pegged to Amtrak's plans to introduce its high-speed, electrified trains in October 1999, Silveira said. The second half of the garage will be built after the first is completed. "After nearly 10 years of discussions, the issue of alleviating traffic in parts of Westwood, Dedham, Canton, and Norwood, near the station, is still at a standstill," said David Mahn, president of the Neponset Valley Chamber, which will host the March 10 meeting at 3 p.m.

Mahn is one of 20 members of a traffic task force looking at railroad station plans. Silveira runs the task force meetings. Silveira, Mahn and community officials like Westwood town man- ager Michael Jaillet will attend tomorrow's meeting, at 9:30 a.m. in Moakley's office. "We want a commitment from the state and the federal government that traffic problems around the 128 station will be resolved," Jaillet said.

Meanwhile, Silveira said in a telephone interview last week that traffic congestion "is related to existing problems on the roadways, not to the expansion of the 128 station. Moreover, when the station's garage is fully built, it will take 2,000 cars off the roads in that area." Also, the state has given Westwood "more than $1 million" for upgrading University Avenue, he said. Jaillet said the redesign of the avenue, funded by a $1.1 million grant, is about 70 percent completed. He took issue with Silveira on the number of cars that will be parked in the railroad station's garage. "Those will be cars from Boston that will just inflame the problem," Jaillet said.

Silveira said that for the March 10 meeting in Norwood, he will have the state Highway Department's preliminary daily traffic counts in the region, and projections for early in the next century. According to figures released last year by the state's Central Transportation Planning staff, an estimated 3,655 cars each weekday use roads surrounding the rail station. That figure is expected to jump to 7,610 by 2020. Those statistics don't reflect the rebuilding of the Green Lodge Street bridge. Before the bridge was torn down about 20 years ago, cars used it to reach University Avenue.

Canton officials have long opposed the reopening of the bridge. That won't occur, Silveira said, adding: "Putting the bridge back in Plymouth: A seminar titled "Investing in Bonds: Treasuries, Municipals and Corporates" is being held on March 3 at 7 p.m. at A.G. Edwards and Sons, 225 Water St Free. Open to the public.

Call 800-807-3880. Randolph: The South Shore The Ramada Inn in Rockland has been named "Hotel of the Year" by the Remington Hotel Corp. in Dallas. Barbara S. Caparell arid Jennifer J.

Digregorio have formed the only all-women's law firm in the Plymouth area. They specialize in domestic relations cases. isn't warranted because only about 200 cars a day would use it." I While Silveira and state government in general are taking their 5 lumps over the giant 128 station project, not all local officials in the towns affected are blaming the state. "The state is just one entityTSdd-ing to traffic problems," said Dedham Selectman Robin Reyes. "Gom-panies move into this area all thi time.

For example, State Street i Bank will bring 1,000 people to Westwood later this year. So, what we're dealing with traffic is aj very complicated issue, one that's not resolved easily." i Visiting nurses, Jordan in alliance Cura VNA of Plymouth is the latest of the region's visiting nurses associations to make a bid for survival through mergers or alliances. jThe organization, founded in 1916, rer cently announced it will affiliate ivith Jordan Hospital, also of Plymouth, in late April. Cura decided it could no longW avoid the handwriting on the wall, said Donna Condon, president of the association, which has 170 employees. "A group like ours today to be part of a larger network," she; said, referring to Jordan, which Js undergoing a $10 million expansjon.

"Freestanding entities are fast becoming a thing of the past," Condon said, adding, "Our affiliation wiQt Jordan will make us stronger ah low us to give even better care. Although Cura will be closebj aligned with Jordan, its nurses yill still see patients referred by otliqr hospitals, nursing homes, and physicians in Plymouth County, she said. After Cura joins with there will be only two stand-alone VNAs remaining south of Boston: Norwell and Brockton. Last July," visiting nurses groups in Abington, Pembroke, Bridgewater, Hingham, Milton, Rockland, and Whitman-Hanson merged to form the Affiliated Community VNA. And four years ago, the South Shore visiting nurses unit became part of South Shore Hospital in Weymouth.

That group now operates in 42 communities. "Change is also happening this health-care field, too. No doubt'1 about it. But I like to say that groups are marrying into new families," said Michael Barrett, chief executive of the 73-member Visiting Nurse Association of New England, based in Needham. I Jordan Hospital marketing manager Margaret Carr prefers to emphasize business advantages of the Cura alliance at a time when thp hospital is preparing to build, starting in the fall, new coronary care, intensive care, and other facilities.

It also plans to construct an assisted-living center after a suitable site in Plymouth is found. "We're moving ahead in a number of areas, and by linking up with Cura, there will be easier transitions for patients to go from the hospital to their homes," Carr said. "Also, doctors will be able to oversee post-hospital care better." While some observers have been wondering how long Jordan can remain independent, Carr said there are no serious discussions with guit- ors. Chamber of Commerce will hold an employment law update seminar' on March 3 from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

at Lombardo's, Billings Street Fee $69, $49 for members. Reservation required. Call 617-479-1111. Rockland: A one evening adult education course titled "Investment Strategy for Mid-to-Large Portfolios" is being held March 4 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Days Inn, 850 Hingham St Fee $15 per person, $20 per couple.

Registration required. Call 781-982-9932. Who's What Wliere, Business Calendar and Business Briefs information should be sent to Soidh Weekly, The Boston Globe, 1165 Washington Hanover, MA 02339. Aerial view of former base in Weymouth, Rockland, Abington. Highlights of the base re-use plan The South Weymouth Naval Air Station Reuse Plan has two components a master plan and a new management entity for redevelopment Here are highlights of the proposal: New "South Shore Tri-Town Development Corporation" would be created to manage redevelopment of the 1450-acre site for a period of 20 years.

Perimeter of base primarily open space in all over 750 acres of open space and recreational space ballfields, walking trails, "Core" area devoted to retail up to 230 acres, enough for and businessresearch and development entities (approximately 175 acres). No conventional residential development, but up to 700 units of housing for seniors on three separate parcels totaling 35 acres. Golf course accounts for about 200 acres. Retail component contingent on state-financed construction of Route 3 connector road bisecting base east-west and connecting to Route 18, and development of north-south access road following existing Memorial Drive. Project estimated to produce $238 million in revenue to towns cumulatively over first 20 years.

6,100 construction jobs and 8,800 permanent jobs forecast Acquisition costs from Navy estimated at zero for now, but plan acknowledges actual price will emerge from negotiations that start at fair market value. JEFF MCLAUGHLIN GLOBE PHOTO KERRY BRETT to voters Another founder of the pro-airport group, and its principal public spokesman, Luther Fulton of East Weymouth, said, "A general aviation airport which by definition excludes large commercial operations, passenger or cargo remains the best use. It could start generating revenue for the towns almost immediately, wouldn't require huge capital investments and years of development, and it would not create the kind of environmental and quality-of-life problems that a mega-mall would. We think a majority of the rank-and-file citizens in the three towns agree with us." The Weymouth warrant includes a nonbinding resolution that calls on the planning committee to reconsider a general aviation option, then come back to town meetings for another vote on development plans. The special town meeting war rants in the other two towns do not include this.

In Rockland on March 16, and in Abington on March 23, open town meetings will address just the two essential questions approv al of the proposed re-use plan, and creation of the tri-town development corporation. In all three towns, no amend ments will be permitted. The votes will be yes-no affairs, with simple majorities prevailing. In May, presuming the re-use plan and the new corporation are approved, two-thirds majority votes in favor of necessary zoning changes would be required for the plan to proceed. The Department of Defense re quires consensus majority votes in the affirmative on the two essential questions in all three towns, then approval of the zoning changes be fore it will negotiate the transfer of the decommissioned military base to civilians.

If no consensus can be found, the Pentagon can sell the property to the highest bidder. The current deadline for submission of a consen sus plan is June 30 the date Larkin referred to as looming over the vot ers this month. Although no one sug gested last week that rejection of the re-use plan will immediately galva nize the Navy to put the base up for sale, the pressure from the Pentagon is real, according to Haley, McElroy, Larkin, and Clarke. Although the Mills Corp. mega mall has generated the most atten tion, tne proposed re-use plan is much more complex.

In addition to the 200 acres set aside for retail uses, it includes several other ele ments. It would: Encourage research and de velopment and other businesses to settle on 175 earmarked acres. Allow up to 700 units of senior housing on three parcels totaling 35 acres, while prohibiting single-family residences. Devote about 200 acres to a golf course. Set aside more than 750 acres for open space and recreational uses.

About 50 acres would be given over to housing for Coast Guard personnel and 'for the homeless, as man dated by the federal government BASE Continued from Page 1 says could take up to 20 years it would ultimately generate an estimated $26 million a year in additional property tax. revenues for the three towns. Annual payroll at the former base would be $700 million, the committee estimates. The planning committee unanimously approved the re-use plan in January. Subsequently, it was endorsed in unanimous votes by the boards of selectmen in the three towns Weymouth's board voted last Monday and the Weymouth Planning Board also has given its support in a unanimous vote.

But the outcome of this month's special town meeting votes is not certain. Opponents of the plan are led by a group that favors turning the former air base into a general aviation airport a possibility rejected by the planning committee in October 1996, at the outset of the process, in the face of vociferous opposition from abutters and other neighborhood activists. But the pro-airport group did not fold its wings. Its members have been among the most attentive to the planning process, urging at every opportunity in public meetings that the airport option be considered. Now airport proponents also are enlisting support from those who -whatever their views on an airport -are opposed to the possibility of a mega-mall, including those focused on traffic issues.

A Route 3 connector road to the former base would be required for any large-scale retail project. Mills Corp. projects up to 25,000 vehicles a day could be drawn to a mega-mall. Others who may consider voting down the proposed plan include residents worried about drinking water supplies and sewerage infrastructure inadequate already in all three towns, with Weymouth in the most stressful situation. The pro-airport group, in a mailing last week to the 254 elected Town Meeting representatives in Weymouth, cited water issues as a compelling reason for a vote against the proposed re-use plan.

The committee members and the professional planners working with them have insisted at every opportu-m nity that "not a spadeful of earth will be turned," in Weymouth town plan-ner James Clarke's words, until a new and adequate water source is found and developed for the base projects at no cost to the towns. And they argue that the traffic issues and mitigation plans are adequately addressed in the 32-page re-use plan. "Weymouth and the other two towns already have major traffic issues, they already have major water issues," Clarke said last week. "Any re-use whatsoever at the base is going to have to deal with them. Even with no redevelopment, we've got those issues.

This proposal offers a way for some of those issues to be addressed with tne infusion of cap-ital from outside sources, private- 1996 GLOBE PHOTO DAVID RYAN the planning committee and a longtime member of the Weymouth Planning Board, said planning has been underway informally for nine years, when the base closing was first seen as a possibility. The current committee has been working since 1995. "We've explored every option, made changes in possible plans all along the way, held over 150 public meetings to get citizen input, compromised and cut some things out entirely in response to public concerns," said McElroy. "This plan makes sense." But Weymouth lawyer Henry T. Dunker, a founder and current treasurer of the Committee for a More Secure Weymouth Future, the pro-airport group, disagrees.

"A mega-mall centerpiece is not compatible with the residential community that Weymouth is now and will be in the future," Dunker said. "The re-use plan doesn't address how the roads and other infrastructure will change the landscape of South Weymouth, or how the plan will affect the existing businesses in the areft, or where the water is going to come from." sector money, and federal grants, instead of just from the pockets of local taxpayers. And the positive economic effects are very substantial." Representative Paul R. Haley (D-Weymouth), a member, of the planning committee and also chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, said of the proposed plan last week, "This is a realistic plan that would generate significant revenue for the three towns. We should embrace it and move on.

We could deliberate for years and years to try to find the absolutely ideal choice, and we'd never find a solution that makes everybody happy." John Larkin, spokesman for the Massachusetts Development Finance Agency, which is providing technical support and funding to the planning committee, said, "The Navy has been patient as we work through the process, but we have to show them some significant progress. There is a deadline for a re-use plan to be submitted, and it's June 30. Mass. Development thinks this is an economically beneficial plan for the towns and deserves consensus support." 2 Mary McElroy, chairwoman of.