QUINCY, Mass. (AP) — A planned downtown redevelopment project in Quinicy has drawn nearly $200 million in investments from outside the city and is attracting attention from national urban planning experts.

The Patriot Ledger reports (http://bit.ly/VpJBVj ) that demolition in Quincy Center is set to begin next month, the first step in the $1.6 billion project. About 3.5 million square feet of business, retail and residential space in Quincy Center will be created in the next seven years.

The Washington, D.C.-based Urban Land Institute is citing the Quincy project as one to watch. And Northeastern University is planning a course for the fall semester called ‘‘The Quincy Model’’ about the public-private partnership behind the project.

Experts say that the model behind the development could be used by developers and other cities to revitalize aging urban areas.

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