Representatives of Urban Edge, the owner of the shopping center, presented their initial plans to transform the property to the Framingham City Council.
FRAMINGHAM - The Framingham City Council was presented with concepts for the future of Shoppers World during their meeting on Tuesday, July 15.
New York-based real estate firm Urban Edge Properties acquired the shopping plaza in October 2023. COO for Urban Edge Jeff Mooallem gave a presentation to local legislators on Tuesday regarding their ideas for the area.
Urban Edge is planning on utilizing mixed-use developments to turn Shoppers World into a “live-work-play environment,” in the company’s own words, that can accommodate pedestrians and public gathering areas. The firm is seeking new zoning plans to clear the way for the project at the property, which spans about 120 acres. Mooallem pointed to spots such as Somerville’s Assembly Row and Legacy Place in Dedham as inspirations for their concepts.
Mooallem explained to the City Council that part of their strategy would include shifting away from traditional big box stores, though the COO did mention that Shoppers World is one of the best performing shopping centers of its kind within Massachusetts. With that, he said that due to the specific details regarding long-term tenant leases, Urban Edge does not have complete control over the entire space to facilitate these ideas in the near future.
However, Urban Edge has focused on the 11-acre parcel at Shoppers World where Kohl’s is currently located.
Conceptual designs shown to local leaders show a multi-floor apartment complex at the Kohl’s site; initial plans are for 224 housing units across five floors along with 90,000 square feet for “walkable retail” space, 31,000 square feet for office space, and close to 300 parking spots.
“We really believe that this is sort of the next generation of good retail development: trying to get people a little bit out of their cars with Shoppers World as the anchor…But they’re going to want to hang out here; that’s the goal for the project,” Mooallem said during Tuesday’s meeting with the City Council.
City Council members like District 8’s Leslie White Harvey and Michael Cannon of District 4—where the Shoppers World property is situated—expressed a desire to include the possibility of residential unit ownership, as opposed to strictly rentals, in the conversation about this project. At-Large City Councilor George King concurred, adding that he would like to see Framingham take advantage of a project that local leaders would be “crazy not to (jump on to).”
“The Natick Mall got built in Natick because Framingham wouldn’t do it…So, I certainly hope that (Urban Edge continues) to develop this,” King continued.
“I think it would be very exciting. It’s just the first step, but the things we always see somewhere else—it would be nice to see here.”
Mooallem said that one of Urban Edge’s next major steps is to “test the market” regarding the interest of local retailers. He added that the group has about 12 months to make a decision based on that demand.
.avif){kind=small}
.avif){kind=small}
During their meeting on Tuesday, local legislators learned more about efforts to deploy police body cameras and to create a regional dispatch center, as well as current challenges facing the Framingham Fire Department.
Local officials continue to mull potential changes to the area in downtown Framingham, as the city seeks full-time compliance with a state zoning law.
The inaugural Bay State Motor Festival at Cushing Memorial Park took place this past Sunday, June 8.
