Northland Celebrates Topping Off of First Residential Building and Unveils ‘Pattern District’
Historic milestone marks the emergence of a new model for sustainable,
community-centered living
Will be the largest privately-funded Passive House community in the United States
NEWTON, MA. — May 20, 2026 — Northland today celebrated a major milestone in the evolution of its transformative development in Newton Upper Falls, raising the final beam on the project’s first residential building and officially unveiling its new name: Pattern District.
Pattern District represents the transformation of 23 acres of outdated retail and industrial space into a model of urban planning and sustainability. Pattern District will set a new standard for residential development in the Boston area and be a national model of housing diversity, environmental sustainability, transit demand management, historic preservation, open space, and community amenities.
Today’s topping off ceremony marks the culmination of more than 50 years of vision, partnership, and planning with the City of Newton, elected officials, neighbors, and community stakeholders.
A Village Woven for the Future
Formerly known as Northland Newton Development (NND), Pattern District reflects both a rich textile manufacturing heritage and a forward-looking vision for how people live, connect, and thrive in a modern neighborhood. Dating back to the mid-1800s, the property was the center of prosperity for Newton Upper Falls and the region, as industries leveraged river and rail to manufacture and ship goods. The Saco Pettee Mill, a hub of 19th-century textile and early punch card innovations will be meticulously preserved and updated to become the cornerstone of Pattern District.
The first sequence of the construction, which will be completed by late 2027, comprises the Saco Pettee Mill rehabilitation and two new ground-up buildings, totaling 315 apartments, including 55 affordable units, along with 32,000 square feet of retail space centered around the 1.5 acre Village Green, an unprecedented gathering space at the heart of Pattern District.
“Pattern District redefines what a thoughtful, responsible development looks like in the 21st century and what a neighborhood can be,” said Lawrence Gottesdiener, Founder and Chairman of Northland. “We’re not just building housing—we’re creating a village that honors history, fosters connection, and sets a new standard for sustainable living, underpinned by walkability and green open space. To see this vision, first imagined decades ago, now rising from the ground is incredibly meaningful. I am deeply proud and grateful to everyone—partners, community members, and city leaders—who helped to bring us to this moment.”
Diversity of People, Homes, and Experiences
Pattern District is designed to address a range of housing needs across the Newton community and Greater Boston. The development, when completed, will deliver 822 rental homes, including 145 affordable units and 96,000 square feet of retail space across nine buildings. The Saco Pettee Mill will be restored to National Park Service standards and converted to 100 loft-style apartment homes, embracing its original brick and beam construction.
“Today’s topping off ceremony marks more than the completion of a building milestone — it represents the continued transformation of the Northland site into a vibrant, sustainable neighborhood that will serve Newton for generations to come,” said Newton Mayor Marc C. Laredo. “Pattern District reflects our commitment to smart growth, new housing opportunities, economic vitality, and creating a community space that brings people together,” added Laredo.
Sustainable by Design
Pattern District will be one of the most sustainable developments and the largest privately funded passive house community in the country. Every building will be all-electric. The site has already achieved LEED for Neighborhood Development Gold Certification because of its sustainable master planning and site design strategies.
Designed for Connection
The project has been designed as a walkable, mixed-use neighborhood organized around an entirely new street grid and a central Village Green, intended for active programming and community events. Retail and restaurant spaces will line the streets and spill out onto the sidewalks. A public splash park and playground, which opened to the public in June 2025, is also integrated into the development with connectivity to the Upper Falls Greenway.
Pattern District was designed to prioritize walkability, permeability, and open space, enabling it to integrate seamlessly into the Upper Falls community. The 23-acre masterplan was uniquely designed to surround its 10 buildings with parks and public spaces, allowing exposed fronts on all sides and concealing structured parking below ground.
Pattern District features 50% open space, integrating a visionary set of distinct parks and interconnected bike/pedestrian paths replacing acres of former asphalt parking lots with over 750 trees, and lush landscaping vastly improving the ecological impact on groundwater and the Charles River. The South Meadow Brook leading into the property has undergone restoration, while a portion of the culverted stream historically used for industrial power generation will be exposed.
A central premise of Pattern District is helping to reshape the Needham Street corridor into a more walkable and connected environment—one that improves how people move through the area by expanding pedestrian, bicycle, and transit options for its residents. Pattern District will include parking for 1,070 vehicles, 80% of which will be underground. At least 20% of the spaces will be equipped with electric car charging capabilities. The development will also accommodate bike storage for over 1,100 bicycles and offer a bike share program and a last mile shuttle service to the MBTA Green Line in Newton Highlands.
Northland has assembled a world class team of urban planners, designers, engineers, and contractors who have worked collaboratively to create this national model of a 21st century green neighborhood, including Stantec Architecture and Landscape Architecture, Cube3 Studio, Streetsense, Steven Winter Associates, VHB, Haley & Aldrich, Cranshaw Construction, and Erland Construction.