Enfield Square Redevelopment: What Enfield Could Have Asked For—And Didn’t

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The town approved millions in public support—without tying the deal to walkability, entertainment, or shared spaces residents said they wanted. Proposed project presented to Town Council last year. The Target store is to the right rear. Redeveloping Enfield Square is critical. Once our downtown—a hub of activity and identity—the mall is now a shell of its former self. In public comments and a survey of over 1,000 people, residents voiced a clear desire for the redevelopment: not just retail, but gathering places—entertainment venues, a movie theater, live music, family-friendly spaces, and walkability. Yet on June 2, when Enfield had the most leverage, the Town Council approved a generous package of financial incentives without securing any binding commitments to many of those community goals. Progress, But Not Vision   For sure, the town is taking steps to address the problems at Enfield Square.  The developer, Woodsonia Acquisitions, will redevelop the site into a mix of hou...

Amazon Buys Bacon Road Site for $20 Million

 

Amazon stock art image available on its news media resources page


Amazon has purchased a Bacon Road site in Enfield approved for warehouse development, for $20 million, according to a town official. Public records confirm the sale.

The transaction took place on April 23. Lauren Whitten, Enfield’s director of planning, informed the Planning and Zoning Commission of the sale of 35 Bacon Rd., at its regular meeting on April 24.

"As far as we know, things are going to progress as they were approved," Whitten told commissioners during the meeting. (See PZC YouTube April 24 at approximately 2:58)

But it is not definitively clear how much land Amazon has acquired. Public records show “two parcels,” but do not specify whether the purchase covers the full 181-acre development area. Amazon and Winstanley Enterprises were not immediately available for comment.

The site is where Winstanley Enterprises had proposed an 819,000-square-foot distribution warehouse. Amazon purchased the land from WE Enfield Industrial LLC, a Winstanley affiliate, according to public records. Winstanley lists Amazon as a client on its website and has collaborated with the company on other projects.

The warehouse project was approved by the Planning and Zoning Commission in March 2022.

Amazon's specific plans for the property remain unknown. Amazon typically builds fulfillment centers, or warehouses. It also creates sortation centers where package orders are sorted for delivery, and fresh warehouses or distribution sites for groceries, among other uses.