Project of the Month: Stonegate Group and Nauset Construction complete 54-unit mixed-use development in Natick, Mass.

Natick, MA Stonegate Group’s long-awaited, highly anticipated, mixed-use development at the site of the former St. Patrick’s School is now leasing. Located at 45 E. Central St. in Natick Center, the project offers 46 residential apartments with 12,000 s/f of ground-floor retail/restaurant space with outdoor seating, along with four duplex-style townhouses for sale. The “friendly 40B” development features a 25% affordable housing component and is within walking distance of the Framingham/Worcester Commuter Rail and MBTA bus lines.

“We are thrilled to finally open our doors and share what we’ve built with the community. The project was a true team effort, and we have many people to thank. While it wasn’t easy to get to this point, the end-product is one that all involved should be proud of,” said Stonegate CEO, Sean McGrath.

One of Stonegate’s key partners was Nauset Construction. “Delivering this dynamic mixed-use project to completion reflects the strength of collaboration between Nauset, Stonegate, and Finegold Alexander,” said Anthony Papantonis, president of Nauset Construction. “Our early involvement allowed us to anticipate challenges and implement solutions that ensured efficiency and quality. This approach reflects the same comprehensive preconstruction process we apply to historic restorations, adaptive reuse, additions, and ground-up construction throughout New England.”

Designed by Finegold Alexander Architects, the 89,500 s/f, four-story main structure boasts premier ground-floor retail space featuring outdoor patios, and three floors of one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments directly above, complete with a private roof deck for the leisure of residents. Situated at the rear of the property are four townhomes with an additional 16,000 s/f of living space. They will be sold individually as eight separate units, with each duplex structure containing a three- and four-bedroom home. In addition, there is both surface and underground residential parking below the mixed-use building.

Stonegate acquired the site of the former St. Patrick’s School in 2015. After being delayed by the pandemic, the Natick Zoning Board of Appeals unanimously approved a comprehensive permit to construct the project in 2022. Stonegate and Nauset broke ground the following year with an official groundbreaking ceremony, which was attended by members of the Natick Select Board and other town officials, representatives from Nauset Construction, Finegold Alexander Architects, Needham Bank, Colliers, and PointsNorth Construction Management, other key development personnel, and members of the community. Ultimately, the ambitious project was accomplished thanks in large part to the commitment and perseverance of all involved.

The completion of 45 East Central St. is Stonegate’s second this year in downtown Natick, following the spring completion of the former Kells Beer Co. property at 21 Summer St., which also offers retail space and 13 residential apartments. Stonegate is excited to add these two developments to its other properties in the neighborhood, including 13 West Central St. (the former American Legion building) and 11 South Main St. (the Odd Fellows building). The Stonegate team looks forward to shifting its focus from development to leasing, and to bringing new businesses and residents to the area.

Stonegate is a leading developer and manager of residential and commercial properties throughout Boston, MetroWest, and the surrounding areas. Stonegate owns and manages multiple multifamily residential properties, with over 750,000 s/f of retail, commercial, and industrial space, and has been a leading provider of rental housing for over 35 years.

The project team included: 

• Stonegate Group - Developer
• Nauset Construction - Construction Manager
• Finegold Alexander Architects - Architect
• Zion Masonry Inc. - Masonry