Senior Partner
Land Use/Land Use Litigation; Real Estate/Business/Tax Law
About Mark
Mark is experienced in all aspects of real estate transactions, with emphasis on real estate development, permitting, conveyancing, and leasing. He also focuses on land use and the environmental permit process for mixed use developments, office parks, retail complexes, hotels, senior assisted living housing, and multi-family housing. He has extensive experience with local zoning and subdivision matters, wetlands permitting, liquor licensing, state environmental permitting, MEPA, laws regulating access to state highways and municipal sewer and water systems, as well as laws pertaining to affordable (40B) and smart growth (40R) housing and historic preservation.
Before becoming an attorney, Mark worked for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as a Land Use Planner in the Executive Office of Transportation and Construction. He worked closely with various state transportation agencies to address the effect on transportation of development projects being reviewed under the Massachusetts Environmental Protection Act (MEPA).
Mark is a former member of the Stoneham Board of Selectmen and served as Chairman. In that capacity, he was active in the Massachusetts Municipal Association and was a member of the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority Advisory Board. In addition, Mark is a former member of the Stoneham Conservation Commission.
Representative Matters
MoreLess- Worked with the owner and then developer of a suburban office park in crafting flexible zoning and securing local and state approvals for a mixed use development consisting of first class office, restaurant, retail and hotel uses
- Represented a national shopping center developer in connection with the redevelopment and permit process for sites in Woburn and Burlington, Massachusetts
- Counsel for a major computer company in the acquisition and permitting of its corporate campus in Burlington, Massachusetts
- Counsel for an assisted living/senior care developer in the development and permitting of various properties in Greater Boston
- Worked with a variety of housing developers in connection with the state’s comprehensive permit statute (40B), and the state’s smart growth housing statute (40R) including obtaining state and local approvals for apartment and condominium developments throughout Greater Boston
- Represented a developer in the acquisition, development and permitting of an approximately 1 million square foot office park in Woburn, Massachusetts, including negotiations with the state with respect to a new interchange on Interstate 93
- Represented a developer in the acquisition, permitting and redevelopment of an historic farm property in Winchester, Massachusetts into a cluster style residential development consisting of 50 luxury residences
- Counsel for an established owner/operator of investment real estate in the acquisition, leasing and development of various industrial, warehouse and office properties throughout Massachusetts
In The News
MoreLess- Burlington plots new course for mall area – Mark Vaughan, a senior partner at Riemer & Braunstein LLP, notes how some cities and towns have looked at reinventing antiquated shopping centers and made some changes. In this article, Mark discusses how Massachusetts’ new housing law may further incentivize communities to rethink how some properties are being used moving forward.
Banker & Tradesman, January 3, 2022 - As malls evolve, so must zoning – Over the past few years the retail real estate industry has struggled, forcing many shopping center owners to deal with unwanted vacancies. Now the COVID-19 pandemic has obviously caused further disruption to the industry. Senior Partner Mark Vaughan discusses the unique opportunity for many communities to work collaboratively with mall owners to adopt flexible and innovative zoning which can be utilized to reposition these assets for redevelopment.
Banker & Tradesman, April 26, 2020 - Malls peel back the walls – Mark T. Vaughan, a commercial real estate attorney at Riemer & Braunstein, says changes are in store for most brick-and-mortar shopping meccas.
Banker & Tradesman, July 30, 2018 - Employees, not bosses, dictate location decisions – Creative zoning key to suburban success – There’s a change taking place in suburban commercial real estate and those towns that see it will reap the benefits. Mark Vaughan discusses the evolution of today’s suburban office parks and how companies choosing a suburban location are more focused on where they can successfully attract and retain employees.
Banker & Tradesman, May 25, 2015 - Plan for assisted living facility moves ahead in Woburn – Mark Vaughan, the attorney for Benchmark Senior Living for the rezoning and special permit process in Woburn, notes the parcel is situated where a commercial area meets a residential one and that assisted living is a good transitional use of the property. The City Council recently approved Benchmark Senior Living of Wellesley’s plan to build an 87-unit assisted living and memory care facility in Woburn.
The Boston Globe, August 17, 2014 - Burlington feasting upon its own success – Burlington’s restaurant market continues to be red-hot, evidencing the importance of restaurants to mixed use zoning initiatives and as amenities to evolving office parks. “There seems to be just an insatiable demand for restaurants here right now,” said Mark Vaughan, an attorney with Riemer & Braunstein who has been instrumental in helping several restaurants locate in Burlington.
Banker & Tradesman, July 29, 2013 - Restaurants revitalizing retail centers: three restaurants could open, one in former Borders, in Burlington – A Seasons 52 upscale restaurant is expected to occupy about 10,500 square feet of vacant space in a former Borders bookstore at Wayside in Burlington. Riemer & Braunstein’s Mark Vaughan discusses how restaurants are now considered a revitalizing factor of retail centers.
Banker & Tradesman, March 6, 2012 - I-495 struggles to see light at end of tunnel – despite poor fundamentals, deals are being made – Mark Vaughan discusses the relationship between the Route 128 and I-495 office rental markets.
Banker & Tradesman, November 22, 2010 - Failure to repeal Massachusetts’ affordable housing law may boost multifamily, mixed-use development – With voters deciding to keep 40B, the affordable housing statute, it may encourage developers to create more mixed-income housing, according to Mark Vaughan.
Banker & Tradesman, November 8, 2010 - A towering monopoly: how Boston Properties is poised to rule Boston’s Back Bay – and beyond – Mark Vaughan discusses how the acquisition of Boston’s John Hancock Tower by Boston Properties provides a benchmark sale against which to judge future large transactions.
Banker & Tradesman, October 11, 2010 - Betting on Burlington: Equity Office moves to revamp New England Executive Park – Mark Vaughan, who handled the legal strategy for the rezoning of New England Executive Park in Burlington on behalf of Equity Office Properties, discusses how the new zoning allows Equity to reinvest in this Class-A location.
Banker & Tradesman, October 19, 2009 - How zoning flexibility could help local economy – One component of municipal revenue that is not subject to the cap imposed by Proposition 2 1/2 is tax revenue raised from new real estate development. In a recent Boston Globe Op-Ed, Mark Vaughan writes that while many community officials will be focusing on cutbacks over the coming months and how to make ends meet, an opportunity exists for municipalities to think creatively about future economic growth.
The Boston Globe, February 14, 2009 - Permitting moves at the “speed of business” – Mark Vaughan, who represented Nordblom Company and Palomar Medical Technologies, Inc. in connection with the Northwest Park redevelopment, was recently part of a story in The Boston Globe discussing the project and the significance of the recent designation of the Northwest Park site as a “growth district” by the Governor Patrick administration.
The Boston Globe, November 27, 2008 - Real estate development in Massachusetts – Mark Vaughan was recently featured on New England Cable News discussing how the economy, including the credit crisis, has affected commercial real estate across the Commonwealth.
New England Cable News, October 22, 2008 - Mark Vaughan on IBM’s new software campus – Mark Vaughan discusses IBM’s new software campus in Littleton and Westford, MA.
New England Cable News, August 14, 2007