WATERFIELD DEVELOPMENT PROJECT TIMELINE
Including proposed 40B projects
(P) represents a public meeting
2002
Town considered building a parking garage on the Waterfield lot Site.
JUNE 2011
Town begins discussions to rezone Center Business District to add transit-oriented residential and mixed retail/residential projects for “feet on the street” (MA Smart Growth Alliance grant)
SEPTEMBER 2012
Town engaged in design charrettes (3 architects) (P)
JULY 2015
“Winchester North,” a 96-unit 40B apartment project at 416 Cambridge St. filed, 25% affordable units (24 units); permit granted and appealed; developer won appeal in early 2021.
2016
Town rezones Center Business District to expand potential for mixed use in Sec.7-3 & affordable housing in Sec.7-1 of the new zoning by-law. Approved by Town Meeting by 2/3rds vote. (P)
APRIL 2016
The Select Board and the Planning Board solicited streetscape designs for the site (Abacus) (Carlone)
SPRING 2018
Town Meeting authorized (by ⅔ vote) the Select Board to lease, sell, convey (etc.) the Waterfield lot, subject to the town’s acquiring a restriction requiring that the land be used for affordable housing (P)
JULY 2018
Joint Meeting of the Planning Board and the Select Board. Discussion with representative from the Massachusetts Housing Partnership regarding affordable housing and the Waterfield lot. (P)
OCTOBER 2018
Winchester Housing Production Plan adopted by the Planning Board and the Select Board after a housing needs assessment and community meetings (P)
SPRING 2019
Town Meeting approved (⅔ vote) a new requirement for multi-unit buildings to have a minimum number of affordable units (P)
OCTOBER 2019
Request for Qualifications (RFQ): Preliminary search for qualified developers with experience designing, funding, building, operating mixed-use affordable projects in MA; part of MA bidding process.
JANUARY 2020
RFQs due. Nine (9) proposals received, one eliminated based on score according to the evaluation criteria in RFQ.
FEBRUARY 2020
Public Meeting to review RFQ (P)
MARCH 2020
Winchester’s Housing Production Plan certified by the state through March 18, 2022.
JUNE 2020
Public Meeting to solicit feedback on draft RFP, public comments taken. (P)
JUNE 2020
Draft RFP released to public.
JULY 2020
Request for Proposal issued.
JULY 2020
Q&A for developers (P)
AUGUST 2020
Responses to RFP Due. Six (6) responses were received: Civico, the Manzo Company, NOAH, Pennrose, Waterfield Preservation Partners, and Winn Development.
SEPTEMBER 8, 2020
The Planning Board discussed the RFPs during a public meeting and unanimously selected Civico as its first choice. The Planning Board stated: ”In our review we took into consideration the units
that can contribute to the affordable housing stock, height and massing, materials, total units, parking, design, impact on our historical center, impact to our Town Common, and contributions
to our community as a whole.”
SEPTEMBER 21 & 23, 2020
Developer Interviews (P).
Town staff then scored the proposals according to the RFP evaluation criteria. The Planning Board identified Civico as its first choice.
SEPTEMBER 28, 2020
The Select Board held a public meeting by remote participation to interview the six RFP applicants, and several members of the public made comments. (P)
OCTOBER 8, 2020
The Select Board selected Civico as its first choice and Pennrose as its second choice. (P)
OCTOBER 19, 2020
The Select Board reviewed the proposed warrant article for Fall Town Meeting regarding the Waterfield lot. (P)
NOVEMBER 5, 2020
The Town Manager advised the Select Board that Civico had been issued an award letter and that the town had 30 days to negotiate a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and continue
with negotiation on a Land Development Agreement. (P)
NOVEMBER 2020
Town Meeting authorized (by ⅔ vote) the Select Board to lease the lot to Civico for a term of 99 or fewer years for the purpose of using the land in accordance with the July 1, 2020 RFP. (P) The Select Board, Planning Board and Finance Committee all recommended favorable action.
DECEMBER 7, 2020
The Town Manager advised the Select Board that the deadline to file the MOU had been extended to December 18, 2020 (P)
JANUARY 11, 2021
The Town Manager advised the Select Board that the MOU had been signed and that the town was working on a LDA for Spring Town Meeting. (P)
FEBRUARY 22, 2021
The Town Manager advised the Select Board that "the LDA was being drafted with input from representatives from the Finance Committee, Affordable Housing Trust and Housing Partnership Board, as well as staff." (P)
MARCH 8, 2021
The Select Board voted to extend the MOU until April 9, 2021 as the LDA was still being negotiated (P)
APRIL 5, 2021
The Select Board meeting agenda lists the Waterfield LDA (P)
APRIL 12, 2021
The Select Board meeting agenda lists the Waterfield LDA (P)
APRIL 26, 2021
The Select Board meeting agenda lists the Waterfield LDA (P)
MAY 3, 2021
After debate, on May 3, 2021, Town Meeting authorized the Select Board to enter into a Land Development Agreement with Civico. (P)
MAY 10, 2021
After debate, on May 10, 2021, Town Meeting voted not to reconsider its May 3 vote. (P)