Revere storms forward

REVERE – It takes more than a tornado to sidetrack a $500 million project in Revere.Mayor Daniel Rizzo said construction of the new Waterfront Square remains on schedule despite the tornado that struck the city four months ago.”The best days of the city clearly lie ahead of us,” he said at the City on the Rise economic summit Friday at the Revere Showcase Cinema.Rizzo also vowed to not be disheartened by the recent decision to open a casino in Everett instead of Revere.Future plans for the $500 million Waterfront Square include a hotel, 900 residences, 165,000 square feet of office space and 80,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space along Ocean Avenue. City officials expect the project to be completed within the next 10 years. They also anticipate 7,000 people to pass through Waterfront Square each day.Lou Minicucci of Covington Realty said that the monthly rent for a 1,000-square-foot Boston apartment is upwards of $6,000. In contrast, the same size apartments in Revere, currently under construction, will be available for $2,000.”I’ve always said that Revere is a diamond in the rough,” he said.U.S. Sen. Edward J. Markey said he remembered his days growing up in Malden and taking the “blue bus” to Revere Beach.”It’s time to take the renaissance in Revere to a new level,” he said.Having served in both houses on Beacon Hill, U.S. Rep. Katherine Clark of Melrose said she has been aware of the city’s needs over the years. “Revere has not been a stranger to me,” she said.House Speaker Robert DeLeo urged his colleagues to always believe in the city regardless of the obstacles that lie ahead. “Don’t feel bad for Revere, envy Revere,” he said.DeLeo said $9 million has been earmarked to renovate the ocean pier, returning it to prominence.He said that positive changes are happening inland as well. “Shirley Avenue is changing and changing for the better,” he said.State Sen. Thomas McGee of Lynn said the primary objective is to make Revere a destination as opposed to a place people simply drive through on their way to somewhere else.”There’s an opportunity here,” he said, adding that Waterfront Square will make Revere “the gateway to the North Shore.”McGee also lauded the progress that has been made thus far, especially the renovations at the Wonderland Blue Line station.”The public investment in transportation is transformative of our economy,” he said.From a business perspective, Joe Schmidt, operations supervisor at Market Basket, said the store that opened last month on Squire Road was particularly special. He said it was the first store to open since the “recent events of Market Basket.””We are thrilled to be back conducting business,” he said.