A downtown Westfield renaissance

WESTFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - The Mayor of Westfield says the time has come to revitalize the heart of the downtown.

A re-development proposal for the old J.J. Newberry site on Elm Street was just revealed.

The plan was revealed Wednesday at South Middle School to transform this old property into commercial space.

It would include a PVTA bus terminal, a parking garage and shops & restaurants similar to Thornes Marketplace in Northampton.

City officials have been planning this downtown revitalization for a long time.

In 2009, a collaborative project between the city and other organizations gave birth to 147 page report called "Re-Thinking Downtown Westfield."

"It's time," said Mayor Dan Knapik. "Elm Street sees 30 to 35,000 car trips a day and its still the heart of any community. Any community that's successful has a connection to their downtown. 2044 the citizens of Westfield deserve a top notch project and that's what we're going to do."

The city's connection to the downtown was recently improved with the completion of the Great River Bridge project.

The Mayor has called this Elm Street project the "catalyst" for a downtown revitalization.