Chestnut Hill Macy's Could be the Site of New Movie Theatre

A Chestnut Hill development firm has some makeover plans for the Macy's on Route 9 in Newton. 

Boston.com recently reported the now closed department store could soon be converted into a movie theatre. 

According to the article, WS Development, the property's owners, have started removing asbestos from the former Macy's building and have plans to start construction as soon as next month. 

The owners indicated that the new theatre would result in the closing of the , which is a few doors down in the Chestnut Hill Shopping Center. WS Development would not disclose the new theatre company. 

 as part of the company's move to "prune underperforming locations while also opening new (locations) to fill gaps in local markets." Since then, the site has remained empty. 

But WS Developments' plans for the Chestnut Hill Shopping Center do not end with Macy's;  and rebuilding a three-story, mixed-use structure. 

The firm will also look to improve the carriageway on the south side of the shopping center (closest to Boylston Street) as well as create traffic calming measures, pedestrian improvements and landscaping additions.

Across the street, plans are moving along for , which will be located at the former Omni Foods site on Route 9. The project recently announced  as one of the development's anchor stores. 

Meanwhile, the , which is located next to the planned Chestnut Hill Square project on Route 9, continues to struggle. Recently,  and the owners have .