DIF District

The proposed DIF district encompasses two separate areas of town, linked by their commercial development, their economic competition and their importance to our community. Please see the maps section of this website for the areas proposed for inclusion in the DIF. DIF Maps.

The proposed DIF contains a northern area and a southern area. The northern area is comprised of the expansion site for the Natick Mall and the proposed residential development site at the Cloverleaf Mall. The Natick Mall is one of the region’s largest retail shopping malls and its expansion will further increase the competitive advantage of this facility – regionally and locally – as it attracts Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom and other large, high end retail establishments. The site is also the proposed home to approximately 200 high-value condominiums, as well as a boutique hotel. The Cloverleaf Mall property is also proposed for inclusion in the district. This site is proposed for a high-rise residential development under the Commonwealth’s Chapter 40B affordable housing law.

The southern area of the DIF encompasses Natick Center, as defined by the Town’s Downtown Mixed Use zone as well as its Housing Overlay Option zone. A portion of this area is the Program site where the Town proposes to build a replacement (and expanded) parking garage.

By seeking to dedicate a portion of the new tax revenue from the Natick Mall to the DIF, the Town is seeking to use the economic success of one area of our community to help facilitate the redevelopment of our downtown, a commercial area that lies at the geographical, historical and cultural heart of our community.

The area proposed for improvement – the Middlesex Avenue Parking Garage – is a single property in downtown Natick. Nearby properties include historic, architecturally significant buildings. A number of these buildings are only partially occupied because of the general parking shortage in downtown Natick. The result is less income for building owners, which has led to a general lack of maintenance and upkeep for some buildings. Completion of the proposed Program is expected to improve the physical appearance for a number of buildings in our downtown by permitting existing vacant space to become leasable, thereby providing revenue to support physical improvements to buildings. This will also provide additional tax revenue to the Town to assist in providing services to other areas of Natick.