The Administration of Gov. Charlie Baker this week announced tens of millions in grants for housing and economic development, including a $50K Community Planning Grant to Natick for revamping the Golden Triangle retail district.
Natick’s Department of Community & Economic Development is spearheading an effort to revitalize the Golden Triangle, a 940-acre area in Natick and Framingham known for its shopping malls bordered by major highways and roadways. A 2018 study by the communities and consultants identified issues with traffic, challenges of competing vs. online shopping, etc., and now Natick looks to join forces with Framingham in revisiting recommendations in the context of current conditions and then actually taking action.
According to the state’s grant announcement, “The Golden Triangle Implementation and Recovery Strategy will advance recommendations of Natick 2030+ and the Golden Triangle Study to support long-term success of the district and address immediate economic recovery needs from the COVID-19 pandemic. The project will amend zoning and create a plan for near-term achievable transportation and other infrastructure investments, with attention to issues of equity and climate change as well as the particular challenges revealed by the pandemic.”
Natick had pegged the cost of its Golden Triangle plan at $300K in the spring, but was hopeful that grants like this one from the state would bring that cost down.
Article 25 at the ongoing Natick Fall Town Meeting also addresses funding the Golden Triangle plan.
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