Finding new uses for old sites in
New England

from Shopping Centers Today
(2007 'In The Pipeline' Supplement)

Today, particularly in the densely developed Northeast, development is most likely to consist of rebuilding - of old industrial sites, underutilized office parks or even closed department stores.

Such is the case for New England, which is redeveloping several projects in the Northeast, some exceeding 100 acres and others that come in at less than 10.

"Redevelopments are the future for New England and for New England Development," said Douglass Karp a senior vice president of Newton, Mass.-based New England Development.

Westwood Station
Westwood Station, a joint venture between New England Development, Boston-based Cabot, Cabot & Forbes of New England (CC&F) and Commonfund Realty, will turn 135 acres of industrial park space in Westwood, Mass., into 4.5 million square feet of retail, offices, hotels and housing.

The complex sits along Route 128 and Interstate 95, adjacent to the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority's train station, 16 minutes from downtown Boston.

Despite the need for more retail and to revitalize the area, "It's been a long time coming," Karp said. "New England is always a challenge to permit and to build."

When the project is completed, Westwood Station will contain a 1.2 million-square-foot, open-air retail center, 1,000 residences, 1.75 million square feet of office space and three hotels.

The first phase will comprise the retail center, topped by some of the residential space, and one of the office buildings. Tenants will be fashion-and home-goods-oriented. "We're talking to all sorts of tenants, from restaurants to major lifestyle retailers," Karp said. "After all, Westwood Station will cater to some great demographics."

The trade area's population of 352,000 reports household income of nearly $109,000 a year on average. In addition, Westwood Station's retailers will serve a daytime office market of 175,000.

The Main Street-style retail master plan, by Boston-based Elkus Manfredi Architects, will contain luxury residences rising as high as seven stories. The project has a contemporary urban feel.

"Architecture is very significant in these kinds of centers," Karp said. "Having a great feel is important."

Site-preparation work began in August, and the ground-breaking is set for the spring. The opening is scheduled for 2008.

Chestnut Hill
Sometimes a new mixed-use development can be created from an old one. New England Development's project in Chestnut Hill, Mass., is the redevelopment of an outmoded, 1950s-era, mixed-use complex. The redevelopment will feature 233,000 square feet of retail, anchored by a lifestyle grocer, and 226 residential units.

The center is located on Route 9, less than six miles west of downtown Boston, in a major retail core. Nearby there are such upscale tenants as Barneys New York, the only Bloomingdale's in New England and Tiffany & Co. And yet it is difficult to find convenient supermarket shopping. This development will fill that void, its developers say, as well as introduce lifestyle tenants and offer luxury housing befitting this affluent market.

The trade area within five miles has a population of 575,000, with household income averaging $89,621 a year. Within a mile of the project, average yearly household income is $163,564.

Boston-based Arrowstreet is the designer.

Wisconsin Place
The name notwithstanding, not all of New England Development's projects are in New England. Wisconsin Place will bring a mixed-use redevelopment to the Washington, D.C., area. "We tend to stay within New England, but we go where the opportunity presents itself," Karp said.

Wisconsin Place is being developed by a partnership of three of the most respected real estate firms in the U.S. - New England Development, Archstone-Smith and Boston Properties. The entire 1.1 million-square-foot complex contains approximately 290,000 square feet of office space in one 11-level building; The Shops at Wisconsin Place, a 305,000-square-foot retail center anchored by a Bloomingdale's and a Whole Foods Market. Joining these are some street-front boutiques and restaurants and 432 luxury apartments.

Wisconsin Place is the redevelopment of a Hecht's department store site, in the heart of affluent Chevy Chase, Md. The project is located on an eight-acre site bounded by Wisconsin Avenue, Friendship Boulevard, Western Avenue and Willard Avenue. The architect is Arrowstreet.

Within a mile of Wisconsin Place, average household income exceeded $160,000 in 2004, and this is projected to rise to $174,443 by 2009.

Nashua Landing
Nashua Landing has a much smaller footprint, but the opportunity is equally great.

"Nashua, New Hampshire, has proven its staying power as a robust regional retail draw," Karp said. "Nashua Landing, a lifestyle retail center unlike anything in this region, will fill a void in this market."

The 450,000-square-foot retail center is being built on 40 acres at Daniel Webster Highway at Spit Book Road. The center's trade-area population of 377,014 boasts household income of $90,631 a year on average. But Nashua Landing's location in tax-free New Hampshire, less than a mile from Massachusetts, will expand the trade area farther. Some 35,000 cars pass the project on Daniel Webster, with an additional 21,000 passing on Spit Brook.

"Nashua has always been a great market for Massachusetts shoppers, and our location at the first exit over the state line will make Nashua Landing a convenient shopping destination," Karp said.

Mid-to-high-end retail is planned, and a significant restaurant component too.