Local developer proposes Trader Joe’s for South End

According to today’s Boston Herald, a local developer is formulating plans to bring a Trader Joe’s market into the South End neighborhood of Boston.

GTI Properties is working on bringing a Trader Joe’s to the South End’s “SoWa” district.

The Boston company presented plans to the Old Dover Neighborhood Association to locate one of the specialty grocery stores in the former power station/trolley barn at 540A Harrison Ave.

The locale was most recently a subway power station and MBTA bus storage building. Apparently, GTI Properties currently owns the property as it held its SoWa antiques market in the building, this summer.

It’s not clear whether or not the plans will come to fruition or, in fact, whether plans actually exist. When a spokeswoman at Trader Joe’s was asked about it, she replied that opening a South End location was not in the company’s “two-year plan.”

My guess is that South End residents would support the proposal, depending on what the developer ended up putting on the second floor and how much parking was built, underground. There seems to be enough residential housing around the spot for it to succeed, plus it’s an easy-on easy-off from Route 93.

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4. Filene’s building developer to Boston: DROP DEAD
5. Big plans proposed for Berkeley Street in the South End