Under Construction: Murray Sandler Redevelopment Begins

One clear indicator that a project is actively under construction is the presence of a port-a-potty.

And that, along with trucks, material and workers, are busy stripping down the building that once housed the on Concord Avenue.

According to Office of Community Development's Director Glenn Clancy, demolition began at the location a few weeks back as the site is being prepared for the construction of a retail center at the corner of Concord Avenue and Bright Road.

The work comes nearly eight months after the Belmont Planning Board unanimously voted to approve the site plan submitted by developer Robert Orfaly and his development team to build a one-story brick retail "village" that will have two to five tenants at 58-60 and 70 Concord Ave.

There was no neighborhood challenge to Orfaly's overall concept and design, in marked contrast to two previous attempts to place retail and housing designs at the site which were met with resident's concerns.

Orfaly, a life-long Belmont resident who has renovated numerous properties around town including 911 Dalton St., 191 Common St. and 505 Pleasant St., agreed that retail employees would park off site at the Beth El Temple Center down the street from the building.