For the past 15 years, VHB has worked with Federal Realty to reposition the Shops at Willow Lawn and create an open-air lifestyle center. In 2011, the mall underwent a $9 million renovation, adding 17,000 SF of new retail space and a community gathering area. VHB applied creative zoning interpretations and reconfigured parking, which resulted in the capture of three new outparcels—adding gross leasable area to the development and creating value in the existing space. Our relationships with Henrico County have been instrumental in expediting permits and approvals to meet aggressive schedules for opening. Recently, VHB integrated new tenants into the center including DSW, Starbucks and Dick’s Sporting Goods. The Shops at Willow Lawn has truly been a transformative project, which has served as a catalyst for regenerating the Broad Street corridor. 

Repositioning as an open-air lifestyle center