PRESS RELEASE
DECEMBER 22, 2016
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: S. PETER KANE, DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, 781.596.8829
REVIEW OF PROPOSALS FOR THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THE GREENWOOD AVENUE SCHOOL PROPERTY
Closed and shut down in 2007, the Greenwood Avenue School property in Swampscott may soon find new life. Earlier in the year, Town Meeting approved changes to the Zoning By-laws at its annual meeting which directly relates to the school property site. The Board of Selectmen then took Town Meeting’s lead by releasing a Request for Proposals (RFP) this fall to remake the property in a way that meets the intention and direction of its zoning. The Town will present the submitted proposals at a forum on Thursday January 5 at 7:00 pm in the high school cafeteria.
“The Town’s been focused on reuse of its vacant properties over the past few years. We’re now moving forward to reinvigorate those properties like the Machon School on Burpee Road which will soon become affordable senior housing,” stated Director of Community Development, Pete Kane. “Swampscott has spent a number of years discussing and pondering what to do with the various shuttered properties, but now’s the action phase to make those ideas reality.”
Proposals for the Greenwood Avenue School were due October 17. The RFP requested projects that would redevelop the property to serve as housing in a way that met a number of design standards and restrictions. Those standards and restrictions were put together after a number of meetings with community and neighborhood members. Respondents were encouraged to develop proposals that serve a residential purpose, at a scale appropriate for the site, consistent with neighborhood characteristics, and in compliance with zoning.
Two proposals for housing developments were submitted to the Town for consideration. The Review Committee, made up of the Acting Town Administrator, Director of Community Development, and two Selectmen, have begun analyzing the proposals and meeting with the respondents. As outlined in the RFP, the Review Committee will make a recommendation to the Board of Selectmen as to the preferred proposal. Once the Board of Selectmen have awarded the project, the selected respondent will then be required to go through the permitting process which includes an administrative site plan review by the Town’s Planning Board.
The Director of Community Development, Pete Kane, will give a presentation of the proposals at community forum on January 5, 2017, at 7:00 pm in the Swampscott High School cafeteria. The presentation will focus on providing an overview of the two proposals as well as asking attendees to provide their feedback on the proposals. Residents and neighbors who are interested in learning about the proposed projects should be sure to attend the forum.
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