A sign for contractor JJ Welch has been added to the chain-link fence decorations at 1 South Main St. in Natick Center along with the artsy hearts and promotions for a planned retail development dubbed The Block. This is the space where a fire devastated businesses in 2019.
A permit for putting in a foundation was issued in July and contractor activity has been spotted amidst the weeds.
Plans for the space have morphed from mixed residential and retail use to just retail, with spaces bigger than initially envisioned.
“Currently under development, this innovative project will host a rotating mix of dynamic local art and retail, emerging brands, food and drink, when it makes its debut,” The Block’s website teases.
Here’s the latest rendering shared by The Block on its website and social media.
Latest rendering of The Block
That rendering looks about 3 times bigger than the space it is planned for!
It’s about time. In typical Natick fashion, development that enriches the area is slowed to a crawl for no apparent reason. Looking forward to the developed space after years of nothing but a dirt and weed infested parcel of land. I’ll be cautiously optimistic in preparation for the town to apply more undue red tape.
This could have been another tiny forest by now.
Why can’t we expect developers to be good stewards of the land they own while they wait for a money making opportunity?
The facade of that building has to be changed! That flat concrete look is modern but cheap looking, and does not blend in with our Natick common or center of town at all. I know brick is expensive, but there has to be some attempt to blend the building in with this area. Keep the New England look! Look at our library, police/fire station/ post office!!
Is it me or does this building more than resemble a juvenile detention center? They couldn’t design something more in harmony with architecture in the neighborhood?? How about going out on a limb and designing something really original and striking? Sad.