WOBURN, MA — One of the largest planned mixed-use developments in the suburbs is pivoting dramatically toward housing, as developer Leggat McCall Properties moves to eliminate commercial components at The Vale, as reported by the Boston Business Journal (BBJ).
According to a BBJ report, the 107-acre project—originally envisioned with approximately 900,000 square feet of life sciences, research, and manufacturing space—will instead add 504 new residential units, many targeted to residents aged 55 and older.
The shift reflects a sharp downturn in demand for lab and research space across Greater Boston. Rob Dickey, an executive vice president at Leggat McCall, told officials, as reported by BBJ, that the original vision was conceived in “a very different time,” before demand for speculative lab construction collapsed. He added that the market could take “a decade-plus” to absorb existing supply before new development becomes viable again.
The Vale, located on the former Kraft Heinz site off Montvale Avenue, has already delivered several residential components, including The Delaney at The Vale, a 223-unit senior living community, along with multifamily buildings and townhomes. Leggat McCall acquired the site in 2018 and has since sold parcels to other developers, according to BBJ.
The proposed shift, however, faces resistance. Woburn City Council President Robert Toro strongly opposed the plan, saying, as reported by BBJ, that he would not support the addition of 504 units due to concerns about strain on city services. In contrast, Councilor Jeffrey Dillon acknowledged market realities, noting to BBJ that development must ultimately follow demand.
The project’s transition would require a zoning amendment from the city.
As reported by BBJ, The Vale is not alone. Several major developments across the region are reconsidering or scaling back life sciences and office components in favor of residential uses, reflecting a broader slowdown in commercial real estate demand. Projects in Newton, as well as large-scale developments like Suffolk Downs, have similarly paused or reduced lab space while advancing housing.
The shift at The Vale underscores a growing trend: in today’s uncertain market, housing—not labs—is driving the next phase of suburban development, according to BBJ.
