COURTESY PHOTO
Pictured is a rendering for the $100 million development planned for transforming the Hilltop Steak House site.
By BRIDGET TURCOTTE
SAUGUS — AvalonBay is proposing keeping the Hilltop Steak House iconic cactus sign with modifications to fit the incoming development, a $100 million development that includes 280 apartments in three buildings at the rear of the property and about 24,000 square feet of retail space in front.
Plans include parking throughout and a parking garage at the back for the former site of the 52-year-old landmark family restaurant, which closed in 2013, according to Michael Roberts, AvalonBay Communities’ senior vice-president of development. The proposal was presented to the Town Manager’s Economic Development Committee Tuesday night.
The apartment buildings are configured to form a landscaped courtyard between them with outdoor amenities including a pool, grilling stations, outdoor fireplaces and dog parks.
There will be 16 studio, 122 one-bedroom and 142 two-bedroom apartments with 1.62 parking spaces per unit, said Roberts.
Each will have a modern kitchen with stainless steel appliances, granite countertops and open-concept living space. Each will be equipped with a washer and dryer, a walk-in closet and a form of outdoor space — either a patio or balcony.
Both a full-service and fast-service restaurant will be on site, as well as businesses such as a dry cleaners, hair salon, coffee shop and pharmacy.
“There has been a lot of interest — we’ve been encouraged by that,” Roberts said.
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The Virginia-based real estate investment trust that develops luxury housing owns more than 43,000 units in 10 states. Its project at Assembly Row in Somerville features apartments with first-floor retail space including Legal’s on the Mystic, Outback Steakhouse, J.Crew Factory, Brooks Brothers and several others.
AvalonBay intends to use the liquor license issued to High Country Investors, which has gone unused since the restaurant closed. High Country purchased the property in 2004 for $10.1 million.
The project is one of the first to go through the new development process outlined by a zoning overlay district for Route 1 in 2015, said Town Manager Scott Crabtree. The process requires approval from several town boards and a public forum to develop a master plan.
“This has been a long process for the community and the residents of Saugus,” Crabtree said. “We recently completed a Housing Production Plan that identifies the needs of the community. Now we’re at the ground floor as partners with the developers of AvalonBay to work out the design and proposal to be able to meet the needs that have been identified.”
AvalonBay altered aspects of its original plans from 2016 to better meet the zoning requirements and housing needs by eliminating the 20 three-bedroom apartments from the complex. Ten percent of the units will be affordable. Designers also included walkways and a Route 1 buffer, along with other modifications, said Roberts.
A traffic study estimated the project will add three to five new vehicle trips per minute during peak hours, when 7,000 to 9,000 cars pass the property per hour. A deceleration lane will be installed to aid the flow of traffic.
It’s estimated the project will create about 200 permanent jobs and about 200 temporary jobs during construction. Ongoing economic benefits are expected to include real estate, sales and excise taxes and water and sewer utility fees totaling $2 million each year. One-time economic benefits, including permitting and infrastructure improvements, will be about $1.7 million, said Roberts.
Once the project gains all necessary approvals, it is expected to be completed in two years.
Bridget Turcotte can be reached at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @BridgetTurcotte.