New Warwick Building Clears Another Hurdle

Marbleheaders may soon have a new movie theater, shops, office space and restaurant.

The Tuesday night approved Marblehead businessman and philanthropist Eijk van Otterloo's plans for a new office and retail building on Pleasant Street that will be built where the old Warwick Theater and several surrounding buildings now stand. The board's vote was one of the last approvals required for the new building.

The Board of Selectmen will now be asked to change the blinking traffic light at School and Pleasant streets to a full traffic-control light to handle the increased number of vehicles expected on School Street as a result of the new building.

The new retail and office building, operated by the Warwick Realty Trust, sailed through the board with no opposition. It was the second time the board had met on the new building.

Paul Lynch, the attorney for the new building, said there are no tenants signed up for the new 38,000-square-foot bricked building.

The most prominent prospective tenant could be a new movie house with two 100-seat theaters for which the Warwick Theatre Community Foundation is trying to raise more than $1 million to build.

The building is also designed to include a restaurant, but no restaurant operator has yet been identified, Lynch said.