NorthPoint developer Thomas O’Brien is looking for an up-market grocer to spearhead an expanded retail component in the next phase of his East Cambridge development.

“It obviously needs to be relatively high-end, fresh fruits and fresh vegetables, and a great provider for the community,” said O’Brien, managing partner of Boston-based HYM Investments.

So, can the city of Cambridge support a fourth Whole Foods Market?

“I don’t know about that,” said O’Brien, who has had preliminary discussions with national grocery chains. “But sure. Who knows?”

City officials recently agreed to double the allowable retail space to 300,000 square feet at NorthPoint. The amended special permit would allow a supermarket up to 50,000 square feet near the heart of the 47-acre development.

“In order to make it a vibrant community, there needs to be a great retail component as well,” O’Brien said. “We already have the CambridgeSide Galleria right around the corner that has national chains. What’s needed now is more retail that’s local in character, more Cambridge-like.”

O’Brien said he has already had some preliminary discussions with grocery chains, but has not selected a broker for the retail space.

NorthPoint could eventually include up to 3,000 residences and 2 million square feet of commercial space next to the new Lechmere station on the MBTA’s Green Line. The T station will move across O’Brien Highway as part of the Green Line Extension, and the retail section will be built between East and Water streets in what O’Brien described as the “front door” into the property.

HYM and partners Atlas Capital Ventures and Canyon Johnson Urban Funds took over the long-stalled development site in 2010. Two condo towers with 330 units were built under previous ownership prior to 2007.

Residential construction resumed in 2013 with the 355-unit Twenty/20 luxury apartment complex, which will open in May.