NORTHAMPTON — Construction is underway on a commercial development at 303 King St. that will house a Starbucks, along with other tenants that may be office space or other retailers.
The building is planned to be completed by July or August and additional tenants have not yet been confirmed, said Frank Colaccino, president of The Colvest Group, the Springfield developer working on the project.
The property was previously home to the Bill Willard, Inc. concrete plant which ran for decades before closing in 2016. Colvest purchased the property in 2018. Colaccino said the COVID-19 pandemic has not been a barrier to the project, which does not include housing.
“All construction in the commonwealth is exempt. As long as you’re following the certain protocols, you’re OK to construct buildings,” he said.
Asked what the state considers “essential” construction, a spokesperson from the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development said that “construction generally is allowed to continue if it is essential infrastructure or is related to essential products, services and supply chain in COVID-19 relief efforts. Work may also proceed if it is needed for the operation or maintenance of an existing building, is expressly permitted within the exemption for a specific essential industry, or involves the production of new housing units.”
The spokesperson added, “The construction of a retail building, that does not have housing units, is considered non-essential, and local boards of health will, as a practical matter, lead enforcement efforts in most cases.”
Greta Jochem can be reached at gjochem@gazettenet.com.