A former gas station property on the corner of Eastchester and Williamsbridge roads is about to be developed for retail stores.
The Nassau County-based Bill Wolf Petroleum Corp. purchased the parcel for $4.5 million last year.
The firm plans to convert the near half-acre site at 1610 Eastchester Road, a former Speedway gas station, into a five-store strip mall.
Brokered by fellow Nassau-based Silber Investment Properties, they have subsequently purchased the adjacent storefront properties on 1480-1484 Williamsbridge Road for $4.282 million.
According to the blueprints, part of the gas station parcel will be used as a 33-space parking lot for the to-be-developed storefronts.
Sitting at the gateway to the Westchester Square Business Improvement District, the retail mall will be the cornerstone to the area’s retail corridor.
“This property sits right at the start of the Westchester Square BID. Local shoppers will now see retail instead of a vacant lot” said Lisa Sorin, executive director of the BID.
The development of the vacant property is something that the entire community is supportive of.
“This is absolutely a positive for the BID, ” she added.
“We want to see the community growing and thriving,” said Community Board 10 district manager Matt Cruz. “This is something we want to see working well with the BID while continuing to transcend business,” he added.
Its surrounding properties are primarily fast food retail such as: Starbucks, Wendy’s, McDonalds, Dunkin Donuts, and Burger King. Sorin sees an opportunity for high-end food establishment at this location.
Ideally, this new property could ‘bring more food variety,’ perhaps as a Shake Shack or a health food store, she said.
The Westchester BID has not made firm contact with the property’s ownership but is looking forward to such an interaction.
“Adding new services to the area would benefit residents and customers, we are very excited to get in touch with the ownership and see what they have in store for the property” Sorin added.
“This should keep the community local, I’d like to see it support local businesses as well,” said Cruz.
The surrounding area gets daytime foot traffic of about 12,365 people per day within a half mile and is passed by 20,000 vehicles daily.
Other retail in the vicinity to the site are: Stop & Shop, Pepboys Auto, Dollar Tree, Chase Bank, LA Fitness, Wendy’s, Walgreens, Capital One, Autozone, 7 Eleven and others.
