WAVERLEY SQUARE FIRE STATION STEERING COMMITTEE
The Waverley Square Fire Station Re-use Steering Committee was created to seek a consensus surrounding a re-use alternative that would allow for the prompt disposition and development of the Waverley Square Fire Station property in order to accelerate the flow of tax revenue from the property. Through this consensus building, the Steering Committee hoped to avoid a protracted public debate over what development alternative would be appropriate. Such a debate would delay the sale of the property as well as the flow of community benefits from the development once the sale occurred.
Given that the Town, itself, owns the Fire Station, the belief was that the potential discord, debate and delay could be short-circuited through a facilitated planning process that would occur before the Town disposes of the Fire Station and during the time the Town can, as owner of the property, exercise control over the property’s future. The re-use of the Fire Station was to generate revenue to the Town to help offset the construction costs of Belmont’s two new fire stations. At the same time, the re-use alternative would seek to maximize total value from the re-use of the property, recognizing that not all community values determined to be relevant and important would be financial in nature.
Funding to complete the planning process was obtained through the Ready Resource Fund, a grant program administered by the state’s Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD).
In 2005, the work of the Steering Committee came to its conclusion. Town Meeting approval was sought, and obtained, in February 2005 to sell the Fire Station. Necessary rezoning was obtained from the same Town Meeting.
In response to competing responses generated by a Request for Proposals (RFP) to dispose of the property, the Board of Selectmen chose a proposal to convert the Waverley Square Fire Station into luxury condominium units. The new housing units will preserve and renovate the historic facade of the building while bringing new development to Waverley Square. Ownership of the Fire Station was transferred, necessary permits and Planning Board approval was obtained, and construction of the new housing units began in late 2005.
Having successfully completed its work, the Steering Committee was thus discharged in 2005.
Respectfully submitted:
Roger Colton, Chairman
Alexander Corbett, Sheila Flewelling, Diane Hirsch, John Greene, Peter Mooney, Sara Oaklander, Jennifer Page, Michael Sullivan, Jeffrey Wheeler, Management Liaison
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