The former Domino Sugar refinery site on the Mystic River in Charlestown has limited the public’s access to the waterfront for decades. Now a developer is proposing to transform the 21-acre site with about 1.7 million square feet of mixed-use and open space.

Braintree-based real estate company The Flatley Co. has kicked off the development review process for 425 Medford St. in Charlestown. The Flatley Co. also owns the nearby Schrafft Center, a former candy factory with prominent clocktower.

As part of the 425 Medford project, The Flatley Co. has also pitched a 22-foot high flood barrier, that will be built to standards that aim to prevent future coastal flooding. That barrier will be built along a newly proposed three-quarter-mile public space on the Mystic River, including an extension of Boston’s Harborwalk, recreational and park areas, a public dock, launch areas for boats and kayaks as well as public look-out spots. Read the full article here.

Both prior to and during the COVID-19 pandemic, many well-known retailers that occupied anchor spaces at the ends of malls and shopping centers made the difficult decision to close their doors permanently. Malls were hit especially hard as large department store chains (such as Sears) closed many of their locations, leaving behind empty blocks of contiguous space often totaling 100,000 square feet or more per location.

To successfully backfill these vacant or dark retail anchor spaces, owners, operators and developers of shopping centers and malls must carefully consider the demographics in the surrounding community served by the retail facility in question. To fill the vacancy, a developer must first identify the most viable economic use for the empty space.

Read the full article on LoopNet.

MINNEAPOLIS – Award-winning architecture, design, and strategy firm NELSON Worldwide is proud to announce the appointment of 26 leaders in its newly created Path to Principal program.

This new program is designed to create stronger alignment between the long-term compensation of NELSON’s leaders and the firm’s long-term financial success. It will also better reward leaders who uphold the NELSON purpose and vision of being Purpose Led, Design Driven, and Performance Focused while boldly transforming all dimensions of the human experience. 

“We are excited to recognize those leaders within our organization who are affecting change throughout the firm, promoting NELSON and our people in the marketplace,” says John “Ozzie” Nelson Jr. “Their efforts are invaluable to the success of the firm, and now we have a powerful mechanism to reward those who create tangible value for our clients and the firm.”

As part of its succession planning, NELSON has outlined three levels – Associate Principal, Principal, and Senior Principal – and the corresponding roles and responsibilities for each.

Our newly appointed Senior Principals are: Bevan Bloemendaal, Chief Brand and Creative Officer; Steven Melter, Chief Financial Officer; Leigh Boyer, Legal Counsel; and Susan Martens, Chief People Officer.

Our newly appointed Principals are: Jennifer Acevedo, Marketing & Brand Strategy; Leslie Campbell, National Business Leader, Asset Strategy; Vicki Eickelberger, National Practice Leader, Asset Strategy & Market Leader; Anne Gibson, National Practice Leader, Workplace; Samer Hamde, National Practice Leader, Healthcare & CCJ&E; Scott Hierlinger, Market Leader; Jessica Kuecher, National Business Leader, Workplace; John Lewis, National Practice Leader, Multifamily; Sean McCorry, National Business Leader, Retail & Hospitality; Nicole McDevitt, Project Services Leader, Retail & Hospitality; Haril Pandya, National Practice Leader, Asset Strategy & Market Leader; Kyle Peterson, National Business Leader, Healthcare, Industrial, CCJ&E, & Mixed Use; Barbara Riekse, Client Development & Market Leader; Joseph Schirripa, Regional Practice Leader, Asset Strategy; Cheryl Smith, Regional Practice Leader, Mixed Use; and Sara Steinbauer, Business Infrastructure.

Our newly appointed Associate Principals are: MaryVictoria Barr, Market Leader; David Filak, Regional Practice Leader, Asset Strategy; Mary Kathryn German, Market Leader; Tiffany Hutter, Financial Operations; David McGoldrick, Regional Practice Leader, Industrial; and Scott Rink, Studio Leader, Retail.

About NELSON Worldwide

NELSON Worldwide is an award-winning firm, transforming all dimensions of the human experience through architecture, interior design, graphic design, and brand strategy services. With more than 800 teammates spread across 20 offices, the firm’s collective network provides strategic and creative solutions that positively impact where people work, serve, play, and thrive. The team combines industry knowledge, service expertise, and geographic reach to deliver projects across the country and around the world. Visit www.nelsonworldwide.com to learn more.

 For many years, a WELL-certified office was the leading solution, but post-pandemic, it will become less of an added perk and more of a non-negotiable asset. Workplaces of the future will need to go beyond WELL and truly invest in their employees’ holistic wellbeing.

New York Market Week and NYCxDESIGN are fast approaching and as retail continues to rapidly transform, we’re looking beyond the immediate industry, to environments and concepts inspiring the retail of tomorrow. Today’s consumers engage with brands in a fluid manner, the traditional sectors of the retail, restaurant, hospitality, and entertainment have blurred as the consumer-desired experience has become a mosaic of expectations, influenced heavily by engagement, access, and authenticity. Embracing these new expectations presents brands with a greater opportunity to differentiate, cross-sell and expand the breadth of their brand experience. So, this year while in the city we’ll be exploring some of the city’s most innovative new concepts across multiple industries, that we think could be a driving force in the retail experience of the future.

This first segment will focus on Food + Beverage concepts, with more markets showcased in the coming weeks. Below you will find the best spots in and around NYC to experience food – whether it’s a market hall, grocery pop-up, or mobile supper club.

Resident | Mobile Supper Club

New York’s newest buzzy supper club popping up in secret locations in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Acting as a culinary incubator pop-up, chefs and dinner guests and chefs get the chance to host one another to enjoy a meal and share stories.

Hungry Root | Flatiron District Pop-Up

This e-commerce grocer debuted it’s first ever IRL pop-up this spring in the Flatiron district. At the space, one can find individual items the brand provides online. The store is as bright and charming as the brand and you’re sure to find something to snack on if you stop by.

Market Line at Essex Crossing (Opening May13th) | Lower East Side Food Hall

The highly anticipated move of Essex Street Market has come and many of its legacy vendors are going with it. Previously known as NYC’s oldest public market, the move to Essex Crossing will make room for even more food vendors and businesses alike. In addition to plenty of food stops, ESM will also have retail, office, and apartment spaces. New to the market’s concept will be the Market Line, a developer-owned food hall that will be located on the lower level.

Mint Kitchen | Union Square Fast Casual

Mint Kitchen focuses on fresh Israeli dishes and snacks as a fast-casual concept. The 50-seat space is bright and open, finished with light wood and lots of greenery. A traditional taboon oven anchors an open kitchen decorated with emerald-colored tiling allowing customers to see the chefs in action.

Gertie | Williamsburg Luncheonette With A Twist

Paying homage to an iconic grandmother, Gertie located in Williamsburg is a newly opened “luncheonette” serving old-school deli counter offerings with a 2019 twist. Here, silverware is presented in mason jars and vintage jars and a colorful mural compliments the naturally lit, 70s motif themed spot.

GupShup | Gramercy Hot Spot

The modern Indian theme trend has spread wide across NYC and GupShup located in Gramercy is rocking it in full force dishing 70’s Bombay vibes. In addition to tasting fusion heavy dishes, visitors can enjoy live music while surrounded by shiny décor, bold murals, and grand chandeliers.

Junzi Kitchen | Manhattan Ambitious Fast Casual

Called the ”Chinese SweetGreen” Junzi is a fast-casual concept serving up Asian dishes that you may have never heard of. The company hopes to open 15-20 more locations in Manhattan in the next 3 years and hopes to transform the mainstream American perception of Asian cuisine.

Mission Chinese Food Brooklyn | Buschwick Hot Spot

Featuring a stark concrete interior lit by LED tubes, MCF in Bushwick is nothing short of what you’d expect from this celebrity chef-owned restaurant. Inside you not only get to experience a unique style of cooking but an array of interesting short films produced by the restaurant’s design team.

Mercado Little Spain | Hudson Yards Food Hall

This newly opened (and still in progress) food located at Hudson Yards aims to showcase all that Spain’s culinary scene has to offer. The 35,000 SF space has three full-service restaurants, plenty of space for tapas, wine, and coffee, retail space for a flower and dry goods shop, and over a dozen vendor stalls.

Today, people move fluidly from experience to experience resulting in everchanging environments that are shaped by the lifestyles and needs of people and communities everywhere. From coast to coast, our teammates are at the forefront of transforming environments and are on the pulse of the trends that define them. In our latest Regional Roundup series, we’ll be connecting you with NELSON teammates from across the country, both new faces and long-time leadership, to explore and highlight regional trends and shifting consumer expectations, across the industries we serve.

This week, we’re introducing you to our West region teammates:

• Kathy Craft, Industrial Practice Leader | NELSON Seattle
• Mark Levine, Managing Director | NELSON Los Angeles
• Tom Bowen, Market Leader | NELSON Seattle

Industrial

with Kathy Craft

TRENDS:
Today, e-commerce is more than 30% of all retail shopping and we expect that to continue to drive demand for all types of industrial space.  Specifically, we are seeing an increase in demand for freezer/cooler space, vertical indoor controlled growing environments, and an increased relationship between technology and the built environment.  As large companies publish goals and implement strategies for net-zero carbon we will continue to see more electrification of fleet vehicles, renewable energy implementations, and the use of technology to minimize process and delivery inefficiencies.

CHALLENGES:
As the demand for industrial land, whether for new development or repositioning of existing, continues to increase we see vertical industrial development to make more sense.  We are working with structural engineers and general contractors to come up with a way to reduce construction costs while increasing the efficiency of cube space functionality in a vertical environment.  50% of the cost of e-commerce is transportation.  I think we will see more creative ways to get the product to the consumer in both locations of facilities and delivery methods.

WHAT’S NEW FROM NELSON:  
Our latest project within Prologis Georgetown Crossroads—a 3-story industrial development—is 100% leased to two big e-commerce players. Each is providing very different sized products for last-mile delivery to the consumer. The proximity to both major transportation routes, I-5 & Hwy 99, as well as proximity to a high density of customers is key in addition to the flexibility this facility offers.

Kathy Craft’s experience includes 30 years of award-winning architectural work with local, national, and international developers of all sizes. The driving force behind NELSON’s industrial practice, her portfolio includes a pioneering industrial project for Prologis, which was the first multistory warehouse of its kind in the United States at Georgetown Crossroads in Seattle. 

Mixed-Use 

with Mark Levine

TRENDS:
Across every sector, our clients are challenging the traditional vision of development in the way they approach adding value to a property. For mixed-use properties, the expectation of what a town center or mall, or even apartment building offers can be vastly different now. From outdoor spaces to enhanced convenience and connectivity, this brings exciting new possibilities to communities that are starving to be included.

CHALLENGES:
It may be incremental, but I see city jurisdictions working harder to open up opportunities and work with developers who bring an aspirational vision to their projects. The last 18 months have been challenging in a lot of ways for our communities across the region and country. I see a groundswell to the challenge of how we move forward. Not just to be different, but to be better.

WHAT’S NEW FROM NELSON:
Our team is in the first stages of developing a mixed-use master plan for a B-level mall property. Currently, the location doesn’t garner that much regional attention, but when we are done I think it will serve as an incredible example of responding in a very personal way to the community’s needs and aspirations. As we continue to garner more of these types of projects, the challenge is to stay at the cutting edge of transforming communities into better, more desirable, and resourceful places for those in and around them. 

Also, we are working with a local Los Angeles developer who owns several small retail buildings in a highly regarded retail district. We are studying conversions to small mixed-use retail/workplace designs that will be more attractive in a post-COVID market.

For 20+ years, Mark Levine has lead design teams through master planning, retail prototype development, domestic and international retail programs, and various retail mixed-use and commercial projects. Mark has completed projects for clients ranging from retailers like Ford Motor Company, JC Penney, and Chase Bank to developers including Forest City, Caruso Affiliated, and General Growth Properties.

Asset Strategy 

with Tom Bowen

TRENDS:
I am seeing a trend of what I like to call “The Big Mash-Up.” Post-COVID, there will no longer be a separation between commercial, workplace, retail, hospitality, healthcare, manufacturing, etc. With this idea, buildings are becoming multi-faceted facilities that are used for working, shopping, dining, fitness/wellness, and much more. This has brought a new meaning to amenities and we should be looking at developments as “integrated-use” projects. This means that the design and layout of the building will change over time, so ultimate flexibility is the key.

CHALLENGES:
It is more important than ever that an environment celebrates brand. We are seeing opportunities with landlords, REITs, and developers to approach their office buildings as their own brands, especially when they are repositioned, reconfigured, and re-tenanted. Preparing a brand strategy for a building or asset plays directly into the marketing, leasing, and valuations of the building. It also brings in all of our areas of expertise including Strategy & Insights, Brand Positioning, EGD, Interior Design, Architecture, etc.

WHAT’S NEW FROM NELSON:
For one of our latest west coast projects, our design team was challenged with transforming an office and manufacturing space into a dynamic workplace that transports employees to a vibrant and inspiring destination, always being reminded of the company’s mission. Located in Seattle, this two-story, 71,000-square-foot facility features equal parts office and manufacturing space, complete with a café and social lounge, and a variety of meeting spaces.

With a focus on innovation and customer-centric design, Tom Bowen fuels growth in the technology, life sciences, mixed-use, commercial and retail sectors. With 20 years of experience in the industry, his experience includes working with complex and scalable account management, organizational development, team building, and business unit performance. 

Curious to learn about what’s going on in other regions?
Stay tuned for more Regional Roundups

Read more with Atlanta Journal Constitution here.

For years, brands and retailers have leaned into pop-ups as a way to uniquely connect with niche consumers and ultimately, create buzz. Now, mixed-use developers are taking it to the next level with the “pop-up village” concept. These environments feature several spaces, instead of a singular experience, and create a mini mixed-use destination, if you will.

This month NELSON teammates explored two of these villages—The Current located at the Boston Seaport and The Box Shops in the West Loop of Chicago—clearly designed to connect with up-and-coming urban markets.

The Current 

Located in the Seaport District of downtown Boston, The Current, by WS Development is a retail village that is home to “an ever-evolving lineup of brands and businesses that spin the concept of a traditional storefront into something truly special.” As guest tenant(s) rotate, each village expression is strategically woven together with a theme. This POV-driven location gives consumers the chance to discover something new throughout the course of the year, while also acting as an innovative retail incubator for brands. Previously, The Current curated a collection of female business founders and distinctly branded the experience as She-Village.

At the moment, The Current is hosting the infamous best-in-beauty brand, Glossier. While we’ve watched Glossier make waves in the retail world, this location is differentiated from its NYC flagship and other pop-ups. Making its debut in Boston, the brand did a full takeover of the Current’s nine freestanding spaces. Each individual space creates a focused display for each of Glossier’s product categories (makeup, skincare, body care and fragrance) or brings to life immersive, “selfie-worthy” installations that celebrate key brand elements. Shoppers order product as they shop each category’s space, and then head to a dedicated pick-up location that serves the entire destination. The execution is undeniably Glossier as each exterior and employee is decked out in the brand’s iconic Millennial pink.

The Box Shops by Related 

At The Box Shops in West Loop Chicago, shoppers can enjoy a “rotating roster of local retailers” in a temporary retail market made of repurposed shipping containers. Powered by Related, the developer behind Hudson Yards, and in partnership with Equinox and Boombox, The Box Shops consist of seven spaces, none over 320 square feet in size with vendor leases starting at $1,000/month. This strategic retail solution provides local start-ups with access to an area they otherwise may not have been able to afford, while also bringing retail into parts of the city where it’s currently lacking. Related reports that the activation has brought more awareness to the site, where they’re building a hotel and apartments nearby, as well as its bigger developments.

The night we stumbled upon the space, you could shop for gifts or jewelry, grab a beer or Israeli street food, and hear a DJ’s music trickle into the streets. It featured an outdoor lounge that invited you to stay awhile and “sip, shop or play”—a non-committal way to enjoy a bustling Chicago neighborhood that often requires a reservation.
We’ll readily admit that we’re a sucker for any kind of new experience, knowing we can always learn something from it—but we predict this pop-up village concept might be here to stay. It steals the novelty of a traditional pop-up, while also providing a reliable, go-to retail destination. And, we’re excited to see mixed-use developers taking the lead to create valuable experiences for tenants and consumers, alike.

The fourth year of Shoptalk in Las Vegas has come and gone. Running from March 3rd-6th, this year’s event sold out at 8,400 attendees. Similar to many retail conferences today, Shoptalk is heavily rooted in e-commerce and customer experience and if you’re interested in direct-to-consumer startups as week as big-name retailers, this is the conference for you.

So, if you’re wondering if you should attend next year’s event or just want to know more, we’ve got you covered. Here are 5 key takeaways from Shoptalk 2019:

1. Stores Must Become the Playgrounds of Retail

Something that has become obvious in recent years is that physical retail is not dead. Now, more than ever “people are striving for human connection,” explained Jocelyn Wong, CMO of Lowe’s Home Improvement, during the “New Brand-Retailer Relationship” session. To create these connections, retailers, both traditional and digitally native, must consider developing store environments that are more immersive, appealing and engaging. It’s has been proven that more revenue is generated through in-store purchases than any other selling channel, so why not elevate the physical space to increase these sales even further? People want unique experiences and a place to play, engage and trial – so give them what they want.

2. Partner Up to Expand Your Reach

Retail partnerships and brand collaborations are on the rise and the more they occur, the more benefits they prove to hold for brands – both new and old. Many retailers are starting to realize they can learn from one another and can gain both value and consumer reach. In a session entitled “New Retail Experiences,” Neela Montgomery, CEO of Crate & Barrel explained how the beloved lifestyle brand, recently collaborated with the digitally native furniture subscription start-up, Fernish. “The Rent-the-Runway of Sofas” was able to showcase their innovative, new platform to a potentially new audience of furniture-lovers, while Crate & Barrel added a new selling (or in this case, renting) channel, adding a layer of flexibility to the brand and expanding its product reach even further by offering up their products at a lower point of entry.

3. Become More Authentic by Marrying Data and People

Consumer data was a hot topic at this year’s event and in today’s market it’s crucial for companies to utilize data in order to gain customer insight. As data continues to play a large role for most brands, it’s imperative that retailers understand how to use it to the full potential. In the session “Delighting Customers through Personal Interactions,” President and COO of Stitch Fix, Mike Smith explained the importance of using data while staying authentic with consumers. He shared how the brand employs hundreds of data scientists, but that the data they pull would ultimately have no true influence without the input of the thousands of stylists they also employ. Data may reveal some powerful things, but it’s important to remember that behind that data are real people with thoughts and feelings looking for authentic and engaging experiences.

4. Try Something New or Get Left Behind

This year’s conference was a good reminder of why it’s important for legacy retailers not to get content with the status quo. Today consumers are more comfortable with the idea of brands trying something new – a fail-fast mentality that keeps brands motivated to experiment and innovate to keep both their environments and experiences fresh. From AI to social media, its now easier than ever to try something new. In the session “Facebook, Building Shopping Experiences for the Changing Consumer,” Mark Rabkin, VP, Ads & Business Platform Facebook explained how Dick’s Sporting Goods recently began using digital ads over the 2018 holiday season. As a result, the company reached record metrics for itself – and within Facebook advertising. This is just one example of how traditional retailers can still make their mark and get ahead in the game by adjusting and updating their digital strategies.

5. Empower and Leverage Your Retail Associates

Full swing into the digital age it may seem hard to believe that people are craving human connection, but as already mentioned, this is very true. To provide this specific human connection retailers need to shift the role of store associates into brand ambassadors, empowering their feet on the ground to share and embrace the brand’s values, mission and story. Don’t make key decisions without gaining associate insight and buy-in. There is no greater brand advertisement than your people – provide opportunities for them to start a dialogue and engage with shoppers on a personal level. Your environment can be memorable for shoppers, but your associates are the ones that will make the experience meaningful.

Overall, I left Shoptalk 2019 with some great insight and inspiration. While over the years, the brand names have gotten bigger and the audience has grown, I challenge ShopTalk to focus more on disruption in the coming years and less on simply checking off the ‘big brand names’. I think retail could learn more from out-of-industry insights and learnings from disruptive start-ups to keep the thinking fresh and the approach innovative.

**Click here to view and download some of this year’s ShopTalk presentations.