Northborough - There's a hill that looks out over the west side of town, and New England Development Chairman and CEO Stephen R. Karp predicts that by next fall the 125-acre site will become a destination shopping plaza for MetroWest residents.

"You're going to have over 2,400 parking spaces and 6,000 feet of retail," Karp said yesterday during a tour of the site, which was attended by Lt. Gov. Tim Murray. "It's very hard to find a prime location that has this much land available.

"We're trying to fast-track the construction so we can open next September."

The sound of bulldozers, backhoes and construction equipment pierced the crisp fall air as Karp spoke about the development called Northborough Crossing, which is near the crossroads of routes 9 and 20.

Karp said he's proud that the first major open-air retail project to open in Massachusetts in several years will call Northborough its home.

"I don't think there's another major project in New England of this size that will be under construction this year," he said.

When finished, the development will feature a Kohl's, a Toys "R" Us, a Golf Town and the state's first Wegmans, an upstate New York-based supermarket.

View complete article at MetroWestDailyNews.com.