By Joshua Burd
A high-profile redevelopment project in Westfield is moving ahead with key changes, following the town’s approval of a plan that now includes nearly 200,000 square feet of office space, 205 residential units and a series of public improvements and new green spaces downtown.
Its developer, Saks Global, joined local officials last week to announce the updates to what’s known as One Westfield Place, which centers on revitalizing the vacant Lord & Taylor site on North Avenue and nearby commuter parking lots. Among the changes is a reduced office footprint — which now includes 120,000 square feet of new ground-up, Class A space at the train station with an adjacent parking garage, along with an adaptive reuse of the former department store to create another 75,000 square feet with dedicated parking.
The firm said the changes, which also include a reconfiguration of the parking layout and a decrease in the cap on municipal bond funding, were shaped by an extensive public review process and reflect feedback from the community and evolving market conditions. Cushman & Wakefield’s Robert Donnelly, Robert Donnelly Jr. and Kim Brennan serve as leasing agents for the two office development opportunities within the overall One Westfield Place project.
“The One Westfield Place project is now ready to move forward and deliver the office space the New Jersey tenant is looking for and add a new dimension in residential living in the downtown,” said Guy Leibler, president of development at Saks Global.
Donnelly Jr. added: “Westfield has a long history of being an engaging, desirable place to live and play in New Jersey. Many forward-thinking companies are striving to attract the highly skilled workforce that New Jersey and the tristate region offers, and this vibrant, walkable community provides all the important amenities needed to accomplish this. One Westfield Place’s state-of-the-art office developments will create thriving workplace environments where employees want to come into the office to innovate and collaborate.”
Several years in the making, the plan is part of a broader effort by the owner of brands such as Saks and Lord & Taylor to rejuvenate or monetize its vast real estate holdings in the U.S. That gave way to a sweeping public information and community engagement campaign by the developer and local officials in Westfield and a proposal that was formally unveiled in fall 2022.
Many residents pushed back, setting up litigation that has loomed over the project. Officials also dealt with questions tied to the bankruptcy of Hudson’s Bay Co., the former owner of the retail brands and properties before a reorganization and spinoff last year that created Saks Global, but recently moved ahead with the scaled-down version of One Westfield Place.
“These thoughtful adjustments strike the right balance between fiscal responsibility, community priorities and long-term economic vitality,” Westfield Mayor Shelley Brindle said. “We believe this revised plan enhances Westfield’s position as a regional destination for business, culture and high-quality living.”
On Friday, Saks Global noted that the new office building would provide high-end, transit-oriented space that would meet the evolving needs of New Jersey’s suburbs. The firm added that the new-look Lord & Taylor building could serve as a headquarters facility or attract boutique firms, creative industries or medical and professional services.
Meantime, the project’s residential component will comprise 138 apartments, 32 townhomes and 35 lofts, according to a news release. Saks Global also pointed to plans to enhance public space amenities, with highlights including:
- Improved pedestrian connectivity and transit access through dedicated bikeways, walkways, rideshare services and pick-up and drop-off locations
- More than two acres of green space, transforming surface parking lots into a Town Square and Town Green, north and south of the train station
- A dynamic mix of retail, dining and cultural uses, curated to serve residents, office users and the surrounding community
