Big Plans for Lord & Taylor Site in Westfield

On Sep 22, 2022

HBC, through its real estate development arm Streetworks Development, announced plans to reimagine the former Lord & Taylor building in Westfield and develop the remainder of its property, along with several town-owned parcels in the municipality, through a sequenced, mixed-use development to be known as One Westfield Place.

The project is poised to reinvigorate Westfield’s downtown; repurpose underutilized buildings and properties; optimize parking; create new housing and commercial spaces; improve pedestrian connectivity between residential neighborhoods and downtown; and envision a mobility hub to accommodate alternative modes of transportation around the Westfield Train Station.

“HBC has more than 350 years of experience in reinvention and revitalization. As the long-term holder of many iconic retail brands, including Saks Fifth Avenue and Saks OFF 5TH, we understand the responsibility we hold to repurpose and bring life to the former Lord & Taylor site in Westfield,” said HBC Governor, Executive Chairman, and CEO Richard Baker. “One Westfield Place, will be welcoming, distinct and authentic, with increased walkability, pedestrian access to open spaces, tree-lined sidewalks, picturesque main streets, and buildings expertly designed to complement the unique charm and character of the town. The revitalization of Downtown Westfield will serve as a model of suburban downtowns for years to come.”

HBC | Streetworks Development’s proposed 731,000-square-foot development, One Westfield Place, includes:

• 100,000 square-feet of next-generation, flexible Class-A office space through the adaptive reuse of the former Lord & Taylor building
• State-of-the-art mass timber building that offers 210,000 square-feet of Class-A office and amenities to benefit employees
• A total of 27,000 square-feet of street-level retail distributed across the development
• 154 high-quality residential apartments and townhomes targeted to 55 and older residents
• 69 residential apartments catering to families and young professionals
• Affordable housing units planned in accordance with housing requirements in both Westfield and the state of New Jersey
• Two new parking garages for public use on North Avenue and South Avenue that can accommodate over 450 vehicles
• Expertly designed and landscaped Town Green and Town Square, north and south of the Train Station, to be revitalized public spaces that enable significantly enhanced community programming and to feature tree-lined green spaces, seasonal planters, water features, and improved pedestrian and vehicular access
• Comprehensive streetscape and sidewalk improvements including the beautification of Quimby Street
• A state-of-the-art mobility hub connecting the north and south sides of the Train Station that improve access to alternative modes of transportation with features including ride sharing, bike stations, storage, and pickup/drop-off service locations.

In addition to improving the Town Green, Town Square, and Quimby Street, HBC | Streetworks Development, in concert with the Downtown Westfield Corporation, will collaborate with Dan Biederman, President of Biederman Redevelopment Ventures, the experts behind New York’s Bryant Park, to develop a comprehensive plan to strategically activate and program events and activities in public spaces and gathering areas.

The project as envisioned will generate several million dollars per year to the Town of Westfield for a total of over $200 million in additional revenues over 30 years, which would help to stabilize taxes, fund public improvements, and support other municipal priorities to maximize the benefits to the entire Westfield community.

The project will also create over 2,900 jobs during construction, as well as 1,700 jobs when operational. The development takes into consideration the 12 Guiding Principles outlined in Westfield’s Master Plan Reexamination, which was adopted in 2019 after a robust public input process.

To help educate residents about the scale and scope of One Westfield Place, as well as listen to community feedback, HBC | Streetworks Development is opening a Preview Center located at 76 Elm Street, in Downtown Westfield.

The plans for One Westfield Place are subject to approval by the Westfield Town Council, a process that will take place in the coming months following the completion of public input.

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