Brookfield Properties has entrusted VHB for more than twenty years to help transform the Natick Mall into an upscale mixed-use destination in the Boston metro area. In the early 2000’s, we collaborated on expansion plans that included more than 550,000 SF of gross leasable area for high-end tenants such as Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom as well as Nouvelle at Natick, a luxury residential complex. Over the ensuing years, VHB continued to play a pivotal role in repositioning shuttered anchors, including JCPenney and Sears with a mix of entertainment uses that draw more foot traffic. Currently, we are assisting Bosse Sports with the conversion of Neiman Marcus into a two-story, 21 court pickleball club.
VHB has led complex state and local permitting processes, developed utility infrastructure, collaborated on the mall’s wayfinding signage program, designed landscape features that have been instrumental in attracting high-end retailers, and addressed traffic issues through the development of creative multimodal circulation and access solutions that facilitated development goals. Our history with the mall, comprehensive understanding of the site's infrastructure and capacity, along with our relationships with local stakeholders and regulatory agencies, have helped us to address the requirements of new tenants. As the mall continues to evolve, to align with the community's changing needs, we are providing permitting and design assistance to overcome operational challenges and the shifting tenant mix.
