Despite opposition from some in the neighborhood, Mills hasfiled an environmental notification form with the state'sDepartment of Environmental Protection. The company expects furtherinstruction on how to proceed to be provided by DEP later thismonth.

Reuse of the naval base has been a source of constant debate inWeymouth since the installation was closed in the mid-1990s.Although many are voicing concerns about traffic and density, MillsCorp. senior vice resident Terry Fitzgerald pledges that thecompany will become "a responsible and active member of the SouthShore community. It is very exciting to be part of thisonce-in-a-lifetime opportunity to redevelop a vacated militaryfacility into uses that will benefit the entire region," saysFitzgerald.

If approved, the 155-acre development will include 325,000 sf ofoffice space and 200,000 sf of mixed commercial uses, as well asthe entertainment/retail complex. Mills anticipates that thecomplex will create more than 4,000 jobs, with 175 stores and 10entertainment venues and theme restaurants proposed.