W/S Development Associates has taken control of the Seekonk Square Shopping Center, a 230,000-sf regional mall located near Interstate 95. The Chestnut Hill-based firm has entered into a joint 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 responsible for managing and leasing the center. The mall, which opened in 1985, has been one of the area's leading retail developments, drawing not only from surrounding southeastern Massachusetts communities, but also shoppers from the nearby Providence, RI market.

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