The city of Newton wants developers to know that it’s open for business.

Some might argue that Newton has already had a soft opening of late, approving the massive Northland Newton, Residences on the Charles and Dunstan East mixed-use developments.

The city is reviewing Wellesley-based Mark Development’s proposed 1 million-square-foot Riverside project, a behemoth that will bring 582 apartments, 250,000 square feet of office/lab space, 38,000 square feet of retail space and a 150-room hotel to an MBTA-owned property at the terminus of the Green Line’s D branch.

Combined with the soon-to-open 140-unit Trio project, also by Mark Development, Newton is suddenly experiencing its largest commercial building boom in decades – all via mixed-use projects – and city officials say they would welcome more.

“It’s a high priority for us,” Barney Heath, director of planning and development, said of the city’s desire to increase its commercial tax base, partly as a way to relieve the property tax burden on residential homeowners.

For those who have tried to develop just about anything in Newton in recent decades, the newfound openness to development comes as a pleasant and welcome surprise considering its reputation for grueling permitting processes.

Commercial Growth Lags Neighbors
Indeed, a recent report conducted for the city by Camoin Assoc. found that, between 2008 and 2018, Newton saw no increase in the total value of its commercial properties as a percentage of overall property values in the city, remaining stagnant at 8.7 percent.

By comparison, nearby cities and towns, such as Waltham, Watertown, Wellesley, Needham, Brookline and Weston all saw increases, both big and small, in the total value of its commercial properties as a percentage of overall property values, according to the Camoin report.
As a result of that stagnation, Newton residential owners have paid the price, literally, in higher property taxes. And that partly explains why, last year, city officials approved an economic development plan that calls for expanding the commercial base via a more “efficient” and “predictable” review-and-approval process.

Robert Korff, chief executive of Mark Development, said Newton needed change. Until a few years ago, he said the development process in Newton, was, to put it diplomatically, “daunting” and “frustrating,” with drawn-out reviews often marked by bitter and long debates.
But Korff, whose mixed-use Trio project in Newtonville opens next month, said the times have slowly changed, and he praised Mayor Ruthanne Fuller and the current City Council for being more open to development in general.

Korff, whose firm is considered a sort of pioneer in the resurgence of new construction in Newton, is now following up its Trio project with the proposed Dunstan East and Riverside projects. At the current location of the Barn Family Shoe Store in West Newton, Dunstan East would include 234 apartment units, some of them affordable, and 8,000 square feet of retail space. The city’s Zoning Board of Appeals recently approved the project.

The ambitious Riverside project – with its huge office component, as well as nearly 600 apartments – remains under review by the Newton City Council which is the special permitting authority.

Newton voters approved the massive Northland Newton development at a March referendum, transforming a former shoe company property in Upper Falls into the future home of 800 apartments, 180,000 square feet of office space and 115,000 square feet of retail.

Major Project Could Begin in 2021
Peter Standish, senior vice president of development at Northland Investment Corp., agreed that getting development approvals in Newton has been historically difficult.

“I would be lying if I said it wasn’t frustrating at times,” said Standish, whose Northland firm first proposed its Upper Falls project in 2016.
The Northland Newton project – which consists of 800 apartments, 180,000 square feet of office space and 115,000 square feet of retail space in 13 buildings centered around the old Saco-Pettee Mill – wasn’t approved until this past March, when voters in a much-watched city referendum OK’d the project along Needham Street.

Standish, whose firms hopes to start construction on the Northland project next year, said the prolonged review ultimately led to a “better product.”

Dan Krysiak, senior managing director at Newmark Knight Frank (NKF), said he understands why Newton in the past has been so tough on developers.

“It’s a balancing act,” he said of the competing interests of residents and businesses in the densely packed city. “They have a unique situation in Newton, where everything is so jammed together.”
But Krysiak agreed that, if Newton wants, it can indeed boost its commercial base, precisely because many office and lab tenants love its “live, work, play” mix of commercial, retail and residential neighborhoods.

According to NKF data, Newton currently has about 2.8 million square feet of Class A and B office space, with a vacancy rate of about 10.8 percent. Krysiak said he’s convinced new offices at Northland and Riverside will prove popular with future tenants.

Leeanne Rizzo, senior vice president and principal at Hunneman, agreed, noting Newton’s numerous restaurants and shops – as well as its convenient transportation access – are key pluses for the city. Besides its access to the Massachusetts Turnpike, Newton also has Green Line and commuter rail connections, perfect for potential transit-oriented developments.

“Newton is an attractive location,” Rizzo said, noting that Hines Global REIT recently sold the Riverside Center at 275 Grove St. for $235 million. The buyer is Alexandria Real Estate Equities, known for its extensive life-science properties in Kendall Square and elsewhere across the region.

City Pledges ‘Thorough’ Reviews
But Rizzo, like others, said there are worrying signs in the market about the desirability, and need, for office space in general, not just in Newton, due to the recent pandemic lockdown and subsequent remote-work habits acquired by employees. The question moving forward: Will corporations require as much office space in the future, now that they know that remote work is popular among employees while not necessarily harming productivity?

“It’s an interesting time,” Rizzo said. “The ‘old normal’ may not be the ‘new normal.’”

The city of Newton’s economic director, Devra Bailin, said she’s also concerned about the future of office buildings due to COVID-19.
“It’s a difficult time,” she said, noting that there may be a shift to more life science lab development if the market so dictates.

No matter what happens, Bailin, as well as the planning department’s Heath, say they hope and expect developers to show more interest in Newton, though they stress the city intends to maintain a “thorough” review process that leads to projects that maintain Newton’s suburban-urban ambience.

Mark Development’s Korff said he has more development plans in store for Newton, perhaps along the Washington Street corridor.
“There will be more coming forward,” he said. “It’s an exciting time for Newton.”

To view article online, visit https://www.bankerandtradesman.com/newton-embraces-growth-spurt/

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The Northland Newton Development referendum had been contentious, but there was broad agreement that the project’s buildings would be environmentally-friendly. Among other attributes, Northland had committed to three Passive House certified buildings with 280 housing units, which would make it the largest Passive House development in Massachusetts. Passive House sets a very high standard for energy efficiency, indoor air quality, noise reduction and resilience.

Now, the company announced that it upped its game by committing to at least five Passive House buildings with 422 units of housing. Northland’s original commitment to Passive House has influenced other developers to follow their lead. Their new commitment will be widely noticed, too.

Green Newton is grateful to Northland for its leadership in advancing green construction in our state.

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NEWTON — Northland Investment Corp.’s proposed development in Upper Falls will move forward after city councilors Monday night approved 800 apartments, 180,000 square feet of office space, and 115,000 square feet of retail and community space, in what will become the largest project of its kind in Newton’s history.

In separate votes, the City Council approved a special permit and zoning changes for the project, which will consist of 14 buildings across more than 22 acres at the intersection of Needham and Oak streets.

In each vote, the result was the same: 17 councilors in favor and seven against.

Peter Standish, Northland’s senior vice president, said in a statement that the outcome was “a testament to the exhaustive and collaborative efforts” of city officials and community stakeholders, “all of whom helped to vet and shape this visionary mixed-use master plan.”

“We look forward to proceeding quickly to make this vision a reality,” Standish said.

The project has the support of Mayor Ruthanne Fuller, along with several local civic groups including the environmental organization Green Newton, the pro-affordable housing group Engine 6, the Newton Housing Partnership, the League of Women Voters of Newton, and the Newton-Needham Regional Chamber.

Greg Reibman, the chamber’s president, praised Monday’s council votes in a statement: “I applaud our city leaders and the developer on this collaborative effort, which will bring workforce housing, jobs and economic vitality to our region and new tax revenue to the city.”

But the potential traffic and financial impact of the development has some critics concerned about the effect on Newton and its neighborhoods.

Leon Schwartz, a Newton Highlands resident, said city councilors worked very hard over 14 months to review the proposal, but did not sufficiently address issues with the project. Schwartz is a member of RightSize Newton, a local group that is organizing a voter referendum to overturn the council’s zoning changes for Northland.

“It’s disappointing that while they talk about the impact to the city and the impact to the neighborhoods, they approved it,” Schwartz said in an interview. “And it’s a problem.”

The project was approved with a management plan intended to address traffic issues. Northland agreed to offer a shuttle service to the Newton Highlands MBTA stop, plus money for transportation improvements and other upgrades, including $1.5 million for work at the Countryside Elementary School. About 10 acres of the property will be left as open space.

Northland’s project will feature 800 apartments, including 123 affordable units for residents earning from 50 percent to 80 percent of the area’s median income, which is $79,310 for a single person in Newton and the surrounding communities, according to the city.

Twenty additional units are designated workforce housing for residents earning from 80 percent to 110 percent of the area’s median income.

During deliberations Monday night in the City Council chambers, councilors voted once for needed zoning changes, and again for the special permit.

The results were the same each time, as councilors Lisle Baker, Allan Ciccone Jr., Leonard Gentile, David Kalis, Emily Norton, Christopher Markiewicz, and Greg Schwartz voted to oppose both measures.

The remaining councilors — including Becky Walker Grossman and Jake Auchincloss, who are among the candidates running to succeed US Representative Joseph Kennedy III — voted for the Northland motions.

Before the votes, 20 councilors made individual comments about the project, many praising the development’s inclusion of affordable housing and its other amenities.

Vicki Danberg, a Ward 6 councilor-at-large from Newton Centre, urged her colleagues to vote yes and said the project is needed to help address a regional housing crisis.

“This gives us an opportunity to have housing for our seniors, for our young people, for those of who want to downsize… yes, we will have families with children; these families are the future of Newton,” Danberg said.

Even some councilors who voted against Northland’s proposal, such as Danberg’s fellow Ward 6 councilor-at-large Schwartz, praised aspects of the project, particularly the inclusion of affordable housing.

Schwartz, the head of the council’s Land Use Committee who narrowly lost reelection following a recount, told colleagues the location wasn’t right for such a development because of its impact on the neighborhood.

“It just doesn’t fit on that road network, in that location,” Schwartz said. “I can’t tell you how many times, even at non-peak hours, I have sat in traffic on Needham Street.”

Deb Crossley, a Ward 5 councilor-at-large from Upper Falls who supported Northland’s proposal, said the city is fortunate to be able to consider a project like this.

“This project is virtually in my backyard, it’s in my neighborhood,” Crossley told the council. “And yeah, there are members of our neighborhood who remain opposed to this project. But there are many who are looking forward to it. So, yes in my backyard.”

Kalis, a Ward 8 councilor-at-large from Newton Highlands, told colleagues he was concerned about potential issues like traffic impact and whether the Green Line shuttle will work because of it.

“This [project] oozes uncertainty,” Kalis said. “And that uncertainty, plus its scale, puts our neighborhoods at risk.”
Public comment wasn’t allowed at Monday’s meeting, but nearly 100 spectators watched inside the chambers.
Among them was Rob Gifford, 63, who lives in Newton Centre, wore stickers for Engine 6 and Green Newton. He said the city desperately needs affordable housing, plus the developer is including amenities like the shuttle and open space.

“When you put that all together… it’s a very positive package for the community and a great result,” he said.
Opponents of the project will move ahead with gathering signatures for a voter referendum, said Randy Block, another RightSize Newton member.

They’ll need about 3,200 signatures in 20 days in order to ask the City Council to rescind its vote for Northland’s zoning. If the council does not, the issue would go before voters at the ballot.

Philip Wallas, 72, of Auburndale, said he is concerned about the project’s potential impact, and would support a voter referendum. If successful, it could mean a chance at a compromise between neighbors and Northland, he said.

“From what we saw with the Riverside project, where there was a compromise that was reached, something like that should have happened here,” he said.

Emma Applbaum, 22, of Newtonville said she knows some have hesitations about issues like traffic and the shuttle service, but believes it will be a good project for Newton.

“I think it will bring the right mix of development to us, I understand there are concerns…. but we have to start somewhere,” she said. “On balance, as a whole, it’s a good idea.”

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NEWTON — Northland Investment Corp. has pledged to add workforce housing and public amenities to its proposed mixed-use development in Upper Falls, but critics say the company’s efforts to ease traffic still fall short.

Northland’s proposal would create a 14-building development on roughly 22 acres at the corner of Needham and Oak streets with 800 apartments, 180,000 square feet of office space, and 115,000 square feet of retail and community space.

While supporters hail the plan for creating housing and businesses in a walkable neighborhood, critics such as the neighborhood group Rightsize Newton worry the project will make traffic in the area worse.

“We are still deeply concerned about the size of the proposed development,” said Rightsize Newton’s Julie Irish, who addressed city councilors during a public hearing Tuesday at City Hall. “The only thing that can mitigate these concerns is scaling down the project to a manageable size on the site.”

Marcia Johnson of Livable Newton, a local group that supports Northland’s proposal, said the project will increase and diversify the city’s housing stock, create new recreational open space, and boost commercial tax revenue.

“All of this will help make Newton a better city for all its residents,” Johnson told city councilors.

Northland also could serve as an option for seniors looking for a home in Newton, said resident Allison Sharma.

“We need a lot of different [housing] options, and places like Northland are a great option,” Sharma told councilors Tuesday.

The company’s move to include workforce housing was outlined in a June 11 letter from Lawrence Gottesdiener, Northland’s chairman and chief executive officer, to Councilor-at-large Gregory Schwartz, chairman of the city’s Land Use Committee.

Earlier this year, Northland announced it was reducing the total number of proposed units from 822 to 800, but retained 123 affordable rental units as part of the development.

At the time, those affordable units were split in two groups — 61 units would be aimed at residents earning 50 percent of the area median income. The remaining 62 units would target residents earning 80 percent of the area median income, according to project filings.

Now, under Northland’s revised proposal, the number of affordable units would be slightly reduced to 120 units, and include units ranging from 50 percent to 80 percent of the area’s median income.

An additional 20 units would be designated workforce housing, and would be aimed at residents earning from 80 percent to 110 percent of the area’s median income.

The area median income for a single person in Newton is $79,310, according to the city. A two-person household could earn up to $90,640.

Northland is proposing to build more affordable housing than has been created in Newton in more than a decade.

Since 2003, 70 housing units have been built in Newton that are affordable to residents earning 80 percent or below the area median income, according to Amanda Berman, the city’s director of housing and community development.

An additional 14 workforce units also were built during that period, aiming at residents earning 81 percent to 120 percent of area median income.

Northland also has pledged money for improvements in the area: It will cover the roughly $10 million to $12 million cost of placing 1.5 miles of utility lines underground, and remove 77 poles from parts of Needham, Oak, and Christina streets, along with Tower Road, according to Gottesdiener’s letter.

Northland also would provide the land for a city-operated skating rink and splash park, plus fund up to $1 million for site improvements. The development also would have 9 acres of open space spread out in seven parks on the site.

The development “offers, for the first time, the neighborhoods of Upper Falls, Newton Highlands, Oak Hill, and Founders Park convenient pedestrian and bicycle access to restaurants, retail services, grocers, jobs, green spaces, dog parks, [health] facilities, doctors, and community amenities. This is the vision for [the development] and the newly walkable and bikeable Needham Street corridor,” Gottesdiener wrote.

Northland also has offered measures to control the vehicle traffic generated by the project, including a recently proposed shuttle service that would connect the development with the Newton Highlands MBTA stop. The shuttle would run 16 hours a day, seven days a week, according to Gottesdiener.

The shuttle proposal replaces an earlier version that would have run shuttles to Boston, Cambridge, and other locations in Newton.

To view the full article, visit https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/globelocal/2019/06/20/northland-adds-workforce-housing-newton-development/yIWPaiObrRDE80ggju810I/story.html

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Northland Investment Corp. wants to offer a shuttle service that would connect its proposed mixed-use development in Newton to area transit stops, as well as locations in Cambridge and Boston.

The pitch for the shuttles comes as city officials continue to review Northland’s project, which would include 13 buildings and be built on about 22.6 acres at the corner of Needham and Oak streets.

The proposed development would include 822 residential units, with a mix of apartments and town-house-type units, plus about 193,000 square feet of office space and about 237,000 square feet of retail space, according to the city’s Planning and Development Department. The proposal also includes 4,000 square feet of community space.

The proposed development is expected to impact traffic at a number of intersections along the Needham Street corridor and surrounding area, according to a Jan. 15 Planning and Development Department memo.

The four proposed shuttle system’s routes, which are part of Northland’s efforts to address traffic issues, would connect the development to Newton, Needham, Cambridge, and Boston, according to the memo.

One route nicknamed “Newton Circulator” would connect the development with the MBTA Green Line at Newton Highlands and Newton Centre, plus the commuter rail’s Newtonville station.

The “Needham Commuter” route would tie with the Needham Heights commuter rail station; the “Cambridge Express” would connect with that city’s Kendall and Central squares; and the “Boston Express” would link the development with the Seaport District and South Station, according to the memo.

The development would require a zoning change and special permit from the Newton City Council to move forward.

To read the full article, please visit: https://www.bostonglobe.com/

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Newton Patch
September 24, 2018
By Jenna Fisher

NEWTON, MA — If all goes to plan, Northland Investment Corporation, a Newton-based developer will built the largest multi-use development that Newton has seen in a very long time. The latest plans are slated to come before the City Council’s Land Use Committee Tuesday, which is the next step in the years-long process that still needs to go through a rezoning approval process, too.

As Northland Investment Corporation moves forward to redevelop the mill as part of a 22.6-acre mixed-use project, company officials have been working on the three main concerns residents have surrounding the project: transportation, traffic and schools.

Northland is due to make a full presentation on their project Tuesday night to the City Council’s Land Use Committee during a meeting on their special permit application. Since Northland Investment Corp. unveiled plans for a 1.4-million-square-foot redevelopment in 2016, the developer had held more than 100 meetings with neighbors and officials according to Peter Standish, senior vice president of Northland.

And, he said they’ve taken the three main concerns to heart and lowered the number of units, keeping most of them with fewer bedrooms, lowered the number of parking spaces and added more than 1,000 spaces to store bikes, formed a public transportation plan complete with shuttle and transportation hub where folks can catch said shuttle to commuter rails nearby.  They’ll also have several green spaces, a park and the plan is to connect the Upper Falls Greenway to a bike path that will take users safely through the development and on their way across Needham Street and connect them to the other side.

It’s to really encourage other modes of transportation,” said Standish who lives in Newton.

The Newton Upper Falls project proposes 13 buildings varying in height from 3 to 8 stories with a total of 822 housing units (123 of which will be affordable), 193,200 square feet of office space and 237,097 square feet of commercial space on a 22.6 acre site.

The 172,000-square-foot former Clarks Americas shoe company offices would be expanded into 372,000 square feet of commercial space, according to documents submitted to state environmental regulators.

The development site consists of several parcels at Oak and Needham Streets acquired by Northland over the past decade, including the Oak Street converted mill complex. Clarks relocated to a build-to-suit headquarters at a former Polaroid building on Main Street in Waltham.

Retail and restaurant space would be built in a Main Street format with a park in the center of the site, with residences on the upper floors of businesses.

Northland said its approach supports the Newton-Needham (N-Squared) Innovation District’s goals of boosting suburban job creation. The program is a partnership between the two communities, Newton-Needham Regional Chamber and local businesses with the goal of to revitalizing 500 acres of commercial properties near Route 128.

“We really are very excited about this much needed office space and housing. The housing is really key to attracting people and keeping people here,” said President of the Newton-Needham Regional Chamber Greg Reibman. “It’s a really big parcel and it’s really ambitious. And [the developer] has a chance to make a really big impact on the city hopefully in a really big way.”

To view the full article, visit: https://patch.com/massachusetts/newton/newton-upper-falls-edges-closer-major-makeover?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter&utm_term=business&utm_campaign=recirc&utm_content=aol

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Newton residents will have a chance to weigh in on a proposed mixed-use project that
could bring hundreds of residential units and 430,000 square feet of retail and office
space to Upper Falls near the Needham town line.

Northland Investment Corp.’s proposed development would replace most of the existing
buildings on 22.6 acres at the corner of Needham and Oak streets, according to project
documents filed with the city.

On Monday night, the Newton City Council scheduled a public hearing on Northland’s
project for Sept. 25 in the council chambers at City Hall, according to the city clerk’s
office.

The project requires the City Council to approve a zoning change and a special permit to
move forward, according to Barney Heath, Newton’s planning director.

Developers are proposing 822 apartments, including 123 affordable units, plus 193,000
square feet of office space and 237,000 square feet of retail space.

The development also would include 4,000 square feet reserved as community space,
and would create parking spaces for 1,900 vehicles.

The project would retain the existing commercial building at 156 Oak St. that was built in
1900, while the remaining buildings within the project area would be knocked down,
according to the filings.

Northland has already participated in over one hundred meetings with its neighbors,
community groups, and city planners, the company said in a statement to the Globe. “We
are excited to work with the Newton City Council and the community to create a best in
class mixed-use sustainable development,“ the statement said.

Northland also has worked with the state Department of Transportation, Heath said, as
state officials move ahead with a reconstruction project for parts of Needham Street in
Newton and Highland Avenue in Needham.

Heath said city officials have been working with developers to plan out a lengthy process
to review various aspects of the Northland proposal, including fiscal impact,
transportation, and urban design.

“It’s a complex project that is going to deserve a lot of attention,” Heath said.

To view the full article, visit https://www.bostonglobe.com

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Northland Investment Corp. has unveiled its plans for a 1.4-million-square-foot redevelopment including 865 housing units at a 29-acre parcel in Newton’s Upper Falls.

The 172,000-square-foot former Clarks Americas shoe company offices would be expanded into 372,000 square feet of commercial space, according to documents submitted to state environmental regulators. 20 percent of the residences would be restricted as affordable housing.

“The project presents a unique opportunity for smart growth in the spirit and tradition of Newton’s historic village centers,” according to the submission by Newton-based Northland.

The development site consists of five parcels at Oak and Needham Streets acquired by Northland over the past decade, including the Oak Street converted mill complex. Clarks relocated last year to a build-to-suit headquarters at a former Polaroid building on Main Street in Waltham.

A Northland executive told Banker & Tradesman that the company hopes to attract small and mid-sized office tenants with open format brick-and-beam workspaces. Retail and restaurant space would be built in a Main Street format in the center of the site, with residences on the upper floors.

Building heights would range up to 95 feet and the redevelopment would be served by 2,250 parking spaces including on-street, surface and parking garages.

Northland said its approach supports the Newton-Needham (N-Squared) Innovation District’s goals of boosting suburban job creation. The program is a partnership between the two communities, Newton-Needham Regional Chamber and local businesses seeking to revitalize 500 acres of commercial properties near Route 128.

Northland’s plans require rezoning the five parcels from the existing mixed-use 1 district to business 4.

To see the full article, visit http://www.bankerandtradesman.com/2017/09/developer-seeks-build-865-housing-units-upper-falls/

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Fans of the New England Mobile Book Fair will happy to learn that they won’t have to travel too far to visit the beloved independent bookstore in its new space.

Owner Tom Lyons, who’d warned customers a few months ago he needed to downsize or close, has found a new space not far from the 32,000-square-foot warehouse space on Needham Street in Newton Highlands that has been home for 50 years.

Lyons says the New England Mobile Book Fair is moving just a few blocks away — to the Marshalls Plaza on Needham Street. He’s hoping to be open in the new space, which will be less than a quarter of the size of the old space, by mid-June.

“We had been contacted by a number of cities and locations nearby, but ultimately we felt that we wanted to try to stay local, so when the Northland Investment Corp. contacted us it felt like the right fit,” Lyons said, referring to the Newton-based real estate development firm. “Even though it’s not a permanent solution, it helps keep this bookstore close to its roots. Northland clearly understands the need for unique local businesses that support the community.”

The new space is indeed temporary. It’s only available for about two years because the parcel is part of a 30-acre property that’s being eyed by the city of Newton for a development that would include housing, retail, and office space.

Said Peter Standish, a Northland vice president: “We are pleased to be able to facilitate New England Mobile Fook Fair’s ongoing service and commitment to the people of Newton. This use fits squarely with the vision for our proposed mixed-use development, and we hope to find the Bookstore a permanent home here.”

Like a lot of other independent bookstores, the New England Mobile Book Fair has struggled in recent years as online retailers have captured much of the market.

Full article available here:  https://www.bostonglobe.com/lifestyle/names/2017/05/17/new-england-mobile-book-fair-gets-temporary-home/p7Dh6RPtZHIE0GMjGUaizN/story.html

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In Newton, the city of 13 villages, Northland Investment Corp. is drawing up plans to build a 14th virtually from scratch.

The Newton-based development firm spent over a decade assembling the 28-acre site on the edge of the Upper Falls neighborhood. With the recent departure of shoe manufacturer Clarks North America’s offices to a build-to-suit headquarters in Waltham, Northland’s large-scale redevelopment plans call for contemporary office space, stores and restaurants and nearly 1,000 multifamily units.

In Needham, Normandy Real Estate Partners is set to begin the next act in its redevelopment of a post-war industrial park. After landing the TripAdvisor headquarters as its marquee corporate presence

in 2013, the next phase will include a new hotel and renovated office buildings. Toll Brothers has begun construction of a 390-unit apartment complex, while appliance-maker SharkNinja is set to relocate June 1 from Newton to a renovated former General Dynamics R&D building within the 41-acre property recently renamed Founders Park.

“There’s been a constant renewal of uses out here,” said Jamie Nicholson, a senior vice president for Normandy. “We feel like we’re building the version 4.0, and that version is the most exciting.”

Both projects, economic development officials say, would help suburban communities compete with downtown addresses for office tenants by adding shops and housing within walking distance to workplaces. But public transit options remain limited, and developers are looking to expand and consolidate private shuttle services running from their properties to key MBTA stations.

Northland’s ‘Novel’ Blueprint For Upper Falls

Acquired by Northland in 2005, the Oak Street converted mill complex retains rustic details such as spindle columns and wood trusses, said Peter Standish, a senior vice president at Northland. Northland plans to market 175,000 square feet to small- and mid-sized office tenants looking for open format workspaces with brick-and-beam architecture, he said.

Up to 200,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space would be built in ground-floor spaces and freestanding buildings along a new street running through the heart of the site.

“The idea is to create a real Main Street with people living above the retail, and a central square as a venue for community activity,” Standish said. “We’re trying to create a mini-town. We came up with a design that we think is right for the site and a real novel change.”

The project requires zoning amendments subject to approval of Newton’s board of aldermen. A formal proposal is expected to be filed later this year.

Full article available: http://www.bankerandtradesman.com/2017/03/n2-corridor-ready-next-act/

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