W/S Development Associates has taken control of the SeekonkSquare Shopping Center, a 230,000-sf regional mall located nearInterstate 95. The Chestnut Hill-based firm has entered into ajoint venture with the current owners, Seekonk Square Realty Trust,according to W/S principal Stephen R. Weiner.

S.R Weiner and Associates, a related firm, will be responsiblefor managing and leasing the center. The mall, which opened in1985, has been one of the area's leading retail developments,drawing not only from surrounding southeastern Massachusettscommunities, but also shoppers from the nearby Providence, RImarket.

In a related move, the joint venture has also acquired anabutting site previously occupied by Lechmere where a 125,000-sfTarget department store will be constructed. Adding to anaggressive expansion program into the state, with stores already inDanvers and Saugus, Target plans to open the Seekonk facility bythe fall of 2001.