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Proposed conversion of Pepperidge Farm building at 595 Westport Ave reviewed; owners propose self-storage for rear portion
Summary
TBG Partners presented a preliminary plan to convert the rear portion of the former Pepperidge Farm / 595 Westport Avenue building to roughly 85,000 square feet of self-storage while retaining the front 25,000 square feet for future end users; no formal vote was taken.
TBG Partners presented a preliminary site plan and concept for 595 Westport Avenue (the former Pepperidge Farm property), proposing to repurpose the rear portion of the large building into approximately 85,000 square feet of self-storage while leaving the front roughly 25,000 square feet available for future office or retail tenants.
Project overview and applicant presentation Attorney Adam Blank presented on behalf of TBG Partners and said his client is under contract to purchase the parcel and intends to convert the back half of the building to self-storage while searching for an end user for the front portion. The property includes two condominium units: one side is an apartment complex and the other is the Pepperidge Farm building. Blank said condominium documents limit certain uses and that apartment use was not feasible for the parcel under those declarations.
Design and operational considerations The team indicated the self-storage conversion would be predominantly interior work, leaving the building shell largely intact with minor exterior modifications for loading and accessible entrances. They said self-storage produces substantially less vehicle traffic than previous research and office uses and requires fewer parking spaces. The applicant noted the property is a condominium and some uses are restricted by the condominium declaration.
Questions from commissioners Commissioners asked whether other uses had been considered, whether apartments were possible (answer: the condominium declaration limits apartment use on this parcel), and whether the applicant had considered alternatives. Staff and the applicant said those constraints and the condo declaration shaped the decision to pursue self-storage. No vote or referral was taken; the presentation was informational and will return to the commission for formal review if the applicant files a special-permit or zoning application.
Ending Commissioners recommended the applicant continue coordination with staff and schedule a public hearing and formal submission if they proceed to a special permit or change-of-use application.
