Boston malls are adding apartments

At the 77-acre Hanover (Mass.) Mall, new owner PREP Property Group seeks official approval to add in about 300 apartments as it redevelops the property into an open-air lifestyle district.

Meanwhile, developer Edens is spending about $200 million to add nearly 500 apartment units to its South Bay Center, in Dorchester, Mass. “Having people live there, it becomes a more dynamic, active place,” said Brad Dumont, an Edens managing director, as reported in the Boston Globe. “Retailers want to be in places that are active 24/7.”

Edens is also adding in nearly 400 apartments to its Woburn (Mass.) Mall. Similarly, Kingston (Mass.) Collection has obtained approval to add 300 apartments and a hotel.

Among the drivers of all this new residential space is that the region clearly needs housing, observes Peter Forman, president of the South Shore Chamber of Commerce. Many malls have the land and the infrastructure to support it, he says. “We’re urging anyone who will listen to think differently about their shopping centers,” Forman said. “Apartments and condos at malls can help their owners keep things active.”