Sysco is setting its sights on Middleboro, now that voters in neighboring Lakeville have rejected a zoning change that would have allowed a 650,000 square-foot distribution center on the former Lakeville Hospital property. Voters at Monday’s town meeting defeated the zoning change by a margin of 704-727. Opponents of the project cheered loudly when the results were read; not only did the project fail to get the two-thirds vote it needed for the zoning change, it failed to get even a simple majority. (Source: Enterprise News, October 19, 2010)

According to the October 26, 2010 issue of The Enterprise, Middleboro officials have selected a site in South Middleboro as the best location for Sysco Corp. to build its $110 million distribution center and plan to show the site to company officials on Wednesday. According to town manager, Charles J. Cristello: “We are working very hard on this. We are focusing in on the Sippican site in South Middleboro. We think that’s got the most potential.” An engineer has determined the land is large enough to fit Sysco’s building. The property,  close  to the SEMASS waste-to-energy plant on Route 28 in South Middleboro, is within a mile of Interstate 495; something that company officials say is necessary.

Sysco Boston LLC president Fred Casinelli said he favors Middleboro as the new proposed location for a 650,000-square-foot distribution center. “We’re very interested in a Middleboro site,” Casinelli said. “It looks very good.”

Updated December 6, 2010: According to SouthCoastToday.com, New Bedford is out of the running for the new Sysco location but Middleboro is still in the game.

Updated December 14, 2010: According to The Enterprise, Sysco is now considering a site in Plympton for their new warehouse.

Updated December 16, 2010: Sysco Boston LLC has signed a purchase and sales agreement to buy 121.5 acres in Plympton,  where it plans to  relocate its Norton facility. Get the rest of the story at PatriotLedger.com.

Updated December 17, 2010: According to The Enterprise, Middleboro officials are less than happy with Sysco’s intention to go to Plympton.