Springfield business partners continue march up Lyman Street buying property for a courthouse bid

SPRINGFIELD – A pair of business owners are continuing to scoop up properties along Lyman Street to piece together enough land to build a new courthouse in the downtown.

James E. "Jeb" Balise Jr., officially purchased Springfield Tire Automobile Service at 435 Dwight St. for $6.5 million from the Peter F. Kearing Trust and First American Exchange LLC on Friday.

The half-acre parcel was the last one Balise and his partner Tom Dennis did not own in a city block bordered by Lyman, Chestnut, Taylor and Dwight streets. Three other parcels in the block that are owned by Dennis, principal of Dennis Engineering Group, were also transferred to Bar Belmont LLC., the real estate arm of the Balise dealership business.

The partners revealed plans to submit a proposal to the state to build a courthouse during a Historic Commission meeting in mid-September. The location is in what many call a dead zone of downtown, which is across from Union Station but populated with multiple vacant buildings and lots.

"Jeb and Tom are committed to delivering a transformative project for downtown Springfield that provides a first-class facility for courthouse employees and visitors. They are committed to working collaboratively with the community throughout the development process," a spokeswoman for the partners said in an email.

She did not release any other details of the much-discussed plan.

These properties were already part of a block of land for a proposed Springfield courthouse site. Staff

The proposal is one of two made public since the state's Asset Management Board voted in January to speed up the timeline to replace the troubled Roderick Ireland Courthouse in Springfield by having it built by a private company . The state would then lease it under an agreement that could last 60 years or more.

The other is from business mogul Peter A. Picknelly, who has floated the idea of a mixed-use development including a courthouse on 14.5 acres of land off the Connecticut River. Some of the land Picknelly proposes to use is owned by The Republican's parent company.

Multiple other developers are also believed to be submitting competing projects.

The proposals for the building are due Thursday. It is to be located in downtown Springfield, measure between 220,000 and 300,000 square feet, have available parking and be located near public transportation. It is estimated it will cost $600 million to construct. The long-term deal is believed to top $2 billion over the life of the lease.

Officials for the Division of Capital Asset Management have not said when they will release information about the bids after they are opened.

Balise and Dennis received approvals from the Historic Commission to raze 186 Chestnut St. and 101-103; 113 and 127 Lyman St., which are all historic buildings. The properties were owned by Dennis under the name Bruce Wright LLC, but transferred to Bar Belmont LLC on Friday at a total cost of $1.1 million, according to deed records.

The partners also closed on the purchase of a 3,202-square-foot vacant lot on Lyman Street Friday from Richard Crowley and Roger Slate for $10,000. The property was assessed at $5,800.

Buildings on Chestnut Street are due to be demolished and any businesses inside have been told to vacate the property by mid-October. Sept. 19, 2025. (Douglas Hook / The Republican)Douglas Hook

The land, one property away from the block the partners own, is also adjacent to five parcels of land between 135 and 155 Lyman St. that the city owns and is trying to sell to revitalize the area. Bids for that property are to be opened Oct. 22.

Balise and Dennis have not said if they are interested in purchasing the property as part of their courthouse proposal.

In July, Balise also purchased a roughly half-acre property at 459 Lyman St. for $500,000 about six months after the All American Bar, Grill & Patio was destroyed in a fire. That property is next to Springfield Tire Automotive.

The partners are believed to be in the process of purchasing a third of an acre property which Tyre Track business leased for 35 years and is next to the five city properties which are being sold.

Worcester attorney Donald C. Keavany Jr., whose family has owned the Tyre Track property since 1988, did not comment on the possible sale. The business, run by two siblings, did not have a lease and closed at the end of September.

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