Business & Tech

Dedham Developments Taking Shape, Hurdles Left for Some

Several projects are making headway.

The constantly shifting landscape of Providence Highway in Dedham is changing even more as projects continue to come before the Planning Board.

While several changes have occurred without any construction, one project adding space is at 780 Providence Highway, the current home of . Developers have added space for two retailers to open. One of which will be Dunkin' Donuts, and the other is now zoned to be a sandwich shop, Town Planner Richard McCarthy said.

But that project is on the agenda for Thursday's meeting, because if  developers want to move ahead with two food establishments, the Planning Board will need to approve a new parking plan.

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And parking is crunched on the site, meaning the board could give a waiver to the applicant, McCarthy said in an interview.

On top of the additions to Vitamin Shoppe, Auto Zone is expected to open soon at 805 Providence Highway, the current home of Frugal Furniture, which is moving to West Roxbury, McCarthy said. Auto Zone representatives have presented to the Design Review Advisory Board (DRAB).

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DC Consignments recently opened a Dedham location (they also have a Natick store) at 910 Providence Highway with about 4,000 square feet of space.

Band Gig, a music and performance school, has plans to move out of 444 Providence Highway, the former location of , and relocate to 66 Eastern Avenue.

Providence Highway isn't the only road in Dedham seeing new business.

Developers of have made significant progress in negotiations with abutters, and are moving forward with the a two-story, 7,000 square-foot mixed-use building, McCarthy said.

Developers have agreed not to open a laundromat, food establishment or convenience store on the first floor of its mixed-use building. The project still needs more traffic study and figure out the best spot for the entrance/exit point - a sticking point with a neighbor.

The Dedham Planning Board meets on Thursday at 7 p.m. at Town Hall.


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