Zoning board approves DICK'S House of Sport at South Shore Plaza, granting height and signage variances

The Braintree Zoning Board of Appeals on the evening of the meeting granted variances that allow DICK'S Sporting Goods to convert the former Nordstrom at South Shore Plaza into a three‑story DICK'S House of Sport, a roughly 150,000‑square‑foot, immersive retail concept that includes a central clerestory and larger wall signage.

The vote clears the way for the applicant to seek building permits for a project the proponent estimated will cost about $30 million in renovations. The applicant also said the reuse will fill a major anchor vacancy at the town's largest commercial center and help preserve the plaza's tax base.

The board heard from the applicant's counsel and design team and reviewed proposed elevations and signage proportions before voting to grant the variances. Frank Marinelli, the attorney representing DICK'S, told the board the Nordstrom anchor closed earlier this year, leaving 150,000 square feet vacant and creating an economic hardship for the plaza.…