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Zoning Approval Paves Way for 2M-SF Mall

NATICK, MA-A rezoning of the Tech Commons site on Speen Street means that Chicago-based General Growth Properties can expand the adjacent Natick Mall, a $450-million project that will result in a two-million-sf shopping center.

By Naomi Grossman | Updated on December 11, 2002

NATICK, MA-A town meeting approved the zoning change that will allow the Natick Mall to expand into the adjacent Tech Commons on Speen St. The $450-million project will result in a two-million-sf shopping center.

Saris Sarkisian, Natick’s town planner, tells GlobeSt.com that the rezoning means General Growth Properties, which developed the current 1.6 million-sf Natick Mall, can move forward on the mall expansion project. Sarkisian points out that Tech Commons, which is located in the former Wonder Bread factory, was zoned “industrial 2,” which allows for hotel and business development but not retail use. The rezoning creates a mall center district overlay on the site.

“The big hurdle was getting the zoning passed,” says Sarkisian, who points out that the town was very careful to create zoning on the site that would allow the mall to be built but prevent a big box store from taking over the site should the mall fail. As Sarkisian notes, the town has been burnt with this site before. Tech Commons, developed by Rose Associates, LLC, was supposed to be a “major” high-tech center, says Sarkisian. But, the recession came and “the deals never happened. It was one of the bigger disappointments.”

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