Westfield — The City Council on July 28 approved a confirmatory resolution creating the Eagletown Economic Revitalization Area and authorized a recommended real-property abatement schedule to help the Trailside Business Center project move forward on State Road 32 west of Curley Brothers.

Claire Jelenas of the city’s economic-development team presented the request. Developer I3 Investors has proposed a trail-oriented industrial park with four speculative buildings; Phase 1 would total about 145,700 square feet with an estimated $10.5 million in real-property investment and Phase 2 about 182,000 square feet with roughly $13 million of investment. The project includes off-site trail and utility improvements, a walking connection to State Road 32 and site infrastructure to support future development.

City staff recommended a 14% step-down abatement schedule for the project. Consultants and staff said the development would add industrial building stock in a size range the city currently lacks and would be a catalyst for further investment. Claire Jelenas estimated fully completed assessed value of roughly $21.3 million when both phases are finished.

Developer remarks and conditions: Chip Barnes of I3 Investors said the abatement offsets significant off-site utility and infrastructure costs and is structured to lower occupancy costs for prospective tenants; the abatement is implemented as a pass-through benefit at lease time. Jelenas noted the abatement application includes both phases and that if the developer does not proceed with Phase 2, the developer would not receive abatement benefits for that phase; if the property is sold, abatement obligations move with the parcel subject to the usual SB-1 reporting requirements.

Council action: The council opened the required public hearing and adopted Resolution No. 25-143, the confirmatory resolution creating the Eagletown ERA and authorizing the recommended abatement schedule. The roll call vote was unanimous.

Why it matters: City economic staff said Westfield’s inventory of available industrial buildings in the size range of 100,000 square feet or larger is limited; staff argued the proposed project fills a gap and will improve competitiveness for attracting employers that need modern industrial space. The abatement and the required public approvals are intended to make the development financially viable by offsetting utility-extension and site-preparation costs.