HADLEY — Bank of America is looking to open a branch in a new building that would be constructed at the southwest corner of Route 9 and South Maple Street, according to an attorney representing the company.
At Tuesday’s Planning Board, Thomas Reidy, an attorney with Bacon Wilson PC of Amherst, told members that he will soon be filing plans on behalf of the bank to build a 4,000-square-foot building where a currently vacant building stands at 359 Russell St.
Located next to a plaza that includes 110 Grille, Jersey Mike’s and Five Guys, that building has been vacant in recent years, last used for a Vision Showcase and an AT&T store.
Reidy said the new bank would be located opposite the Chase Bank branch that opened earlier this year.
“I guess when Chase comes to town, Bank of America follows,” Reidy said.
Reidy is also still working on a plan to carve out the Chase and Trader Joe’s buildings and parking lots from the Hampshire Mall site. He is seeking endorsement from the Planning Board to create two lots that would be compliant with town zoning, through easements onto the remaining mall property.
The situation is complicated because neither business has direct access to Route 9 or South Maple Street.
Reidy said the concept of separating the lots, a topic he first broached with the board in March, would reduce the debt load for the lending company that bought the mall at a foreclosure auction in 2024.
In other business
In other business, Berkshire Design Group is assisting the owners of the 207 Russell St. Hampshire Meadow plaza to expand the parking lot from 46 spaces to 59 spaces.
Chris Chamberland, of Berkshire Design Group, said the site has multiple businesses, including Village Eye Care, Miracle-Ear, Hampshire Meadow Family & Pediatric Dentistry, Hadley Nails Spa, Purele Waxing & Spa and F45 Training, but insufficient parking.
Plaza owner Shideh Shafie said the fitness studio has a lot of clients during a morning and afternoon rush, acknowledging this has forced some customers to park at nearby commercial sites.
“People have been parking in other places,” Shafie said. “We can’t physically stop people from doing the wrong thing, and that’s been frustrating.”
She suggested that the fitness business may eventually seek to relocate due to its demands on the parking.
Planning Board Chairman James Makismoski said increasing the parking at the site that first opened in 2017 would be good, noting that overflow on nearby properties is not appropriate.
Planners also approved new signs for Everwell Health at 333 Venture Way, formerly American River Nutrition, and plans for an agrivoltaic project to be developed at 415 River Drive.