Whole Foods May Leave Framingham Without Redevelopment: Docs

FRAMINGHAM, MA — A Waltham-based developer is moving forward with a plan to redevelop the Whole Foods shopping plaza along Route 9, which would expand to add the vacant Nissan dealership just east of the grocery store.

Representatives from Crosspoint Associates Inc. are heading to the Zoning Board of Appeals on Wednesday for a hearing on plans for the new development. In a letter to the ZBA, the developers warn that Framingham might lose the Whole Foods if the plaza can't be redeveloped.

"[Crosspoint] is pursuing the project in order to accommodate its tenant Whole Foods, to enable the tenant to remain at the shopping center, and in Framingham," the developer's application says. "The project will allow Whole Foods to function in space consistent with its prototype store with an appropriate level of parking. To the extent that the [Crosspoint] cannot provide such accommodation, the tenant has indicated that it will look for alternate space."

According to documents submitted to the city, the main Whole Foods building would expand at the rear, and an accessory building located along Prospect Street would shrink. That accessory building houses a TD Bank, Starbucks, a Pilates studio and a salon. According to plans, only the TD Bank would remain in that spot.

The former Nissan dealership at 571 Worcester Road would be rebuilt to house the Starbucks with a drive-thru area, according to plans. A new building would also be added behind the Whole Foods with three additional retail spaces.

In total, the rebuilt plaza would be about 2,700 square feet larger. The developer is asking the ZBA to approve variances for side setback area and landscape area.

Crosspoint owns the Whole Foods plaza, but does not own the Nissan property. The developer has entered into a purchase and sale agreement with the owner, however.

Here's what the renderings for the proposed renovation look like: