Burlington Mall Overhaul Includes Mixed-Use 'Lifestyle Center'

BURLINGTON, MA -- Owners of the Burlington Mall gave the town's planning board a first look at its proposed redevelopment of the Sears end of the mall at a meeting Thursday night. The plan includes demolishing the Sears building and replacing it with a new, 35,000-square-foot, single-story, retail and restaurant building, as well as outdoor spaces. The new building would be a stand-alone facility with walkways connecting it to the existing mall.

The planning board took no action on the plan and continued the hearing to its meeting scheduled for May 17. The plan calls for a reduction of 18,000 square feet in retail space, but in a cover letter to its application, the mall's owners said they are "aggressively pursuing high-quality tenants to populate the new facilities which are intended appeal to the area retail market."

Simon Property Group announced its plan to renovate the mall last month, and expects the project to be complete in Spring 2019. In its current configuration, the mall has 1.3 million square feet of space and more than 160 stores. The mall is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.

The redevelopment follows an announcement by Sears to close 39 stores, including the Burlington Mall location. Traditional, enclosed malls like the Burlington Mall have faced competition in recent years from so-called lifestyle centers that combine shopping, dining, and outdoor space. In some cases, like the Marketplace at Lynnfield, a housing component is also included in the development.

Related:

• Here's What Patch Readers Put On The Burlington Mall Wish List (April 16, 2018)
• Burlington Mall Owner Planning Massive Renovation (April 9, 2018)
• Sears Closing Burlington Mall Location (January 4, 2018)
• 50 Facts For The Burlington Mall's 50th Anniversary Year (January 2, 2018)

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Patch file photo.

Dave Copeland can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).