Wednesday, February 6, 2013
The next session is next Tuesday.
Talks between Westborough and state officials about the Westborough State Hospital property's fate will continue next week. Westborough's State Hospital Reuse Committee will meet with state Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance officials next Tuesday, Town Planner Jim Robbins told the planning board Tuesday night. The state and the town have exchanged offers regarding the site's ownership, he said. "They're now reacting to our counter-offer," Robbins said. In December, DiasporaCapital CEO Anton Nel presented to the planning board his vision for the currently state-owned state hospital site. Nel's concept, he noted, has a film industry component, including a soundstage, as well as “a boutique hotel”; retail; keeping the town’…
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Town officials have raised 'a number of concerns' with the state's proposal, Dykema says.
Westborough officials want to discuss the Westborough State Hospital property with state Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance officials, state Rep. Carolyn Dykema said Tuesday night. Town officials requested the meeting in a letter “highlighting a number of concerns” with the agency’s proposal regarding the site, “including Allen Hall,” Dykema told selectmen. Dykema said she has called the agency to note the letter, and discuss scheduling the meeting. “Westborough is really on the front edge of this,” she said. There “would be an agreement between the town and the state, with the town taking control of the property for a price. And then the town could choose which or how to develop the property. And then for the portions of…
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Selectmen discussed the topic in executive session Tuesday night.
Westborough has received a proposal from the state regarding the Westborough State Hospital property, Town Manager Jim Malloy said Tuesday night. Selectmen discussed the topic in executive session Tuesday night at Westborough Town Hall. Last month, DiasporaCapital CEO Anton Nel presented to the planning board his vision for the currently state-owned state hospital site. Nel's concept, he noted, has a film industry component, including a soundstage, as well as “a boutique hotel”; retail; keeping the town’s playing fields there, and upgrading them with lighting and wheelchair access; adding an amphitheater for community use; saving every building, if possible; and preserving “the ambience that exists at the moment.” In early December, as Nel…
Monday, December 17, 2012
Westborough Patch offers these ideas.
With Christmas eight days away, here are five things Westborough residents would love to see under their Christmas trees: 1. A new fire station design that brings Westborough pride. Voters at the Oct. 15 special town meeting appropriated $11,208,000 to design and build the new station next to the current Milk Street facility, which will be demolished. The advisory finance committee recommended transferring $1,200,000 from free cash and borrowing $10,008,000. 2. A town hall renovation proposal that brings Westborough pride. Voters at the March 17, 2012 special town meeting rejected a proposed $22 million plan for town hall and Forbes renovations, as well as a new community center. In September, residents told the building committee that …
42.27015
-71.61492
Town of Westborough Fire Department
42 Milk St, Westborough, MA
/articles/5-things-christmas-wishes-for-westborough
806364
/locations/8396263
Friday, December 14, 2012
Developer meets with planning board.
A reuse concept for the Westborough State Hospital site would be “exactly the opposite of ‘Hollywood East,’” the developer says. DiasporaCapital CEO Anton Nel told the planning board Thursday night that “we can do film much smarter in Massachusetts than they do in Hollywood.” Nel said his vision for the state-owned state hospital site has a film industry component, including a soundstage, as well as “a boutique hotel”; retail; keeping the town’s playing fields there, and upgrading them with lighting and wheelchair access; adding an amphitheater for community use; saving every building, if possible; and preserving “the ambience that exists at the moment.” Nel, attorney Christopher Senie, and Randy Waterman of Waterman Design Associates …
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Two town officials say it can.
A media-focused mixed-use concept presented for the former Westborough State Hospital would compete with – but differ from – Westborough’s downtown businesses, two town officials said Tuesday. “I think competition is good. I think the town and the area can support both, Selectmen Vice Chairman Ian Johnson said. “They’re two different developments. The downtown area is in the center of town and is walkable for a number of people. This is somewhat different. It’s in a different location.” Johnson spoke as the Westborough Economic Development Committee heard DiasporaCapital CEO Anton Nel’s first public presentation of his ideas for redeveloping the former state hospital. “As far as the retail development, I don’t think it’s going to have such…
A concept of media-focused, upscale mixed-use development was pitched publicly in Westborough for the first time Tuesday.
The basic concept of a media-focused, upscale mixed-use development at the former Westborough State Hospital site was pitched publicly in Westborough on Tuesday for the first time. But Town Planner Jim Robbins cautioned that the site’s reuse won’t go beyond the drawing board for quite some time. The state Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance, the Legislature and Gov. Deval Patrick all have roles to play before the permitting process begins, Robbins said during Tuesday’s Westborough Economic Development Committee meeting. “I think it would be erroneous for anyone to come away from this thinking they understand where this mixed-use development will go in the future,” Robbins said. DiasporaCapital CEO Anton Nel presented his …
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
It's a possibility that could become a probability, town officials tell Economic Development Committee.
The Economic Development Committee held its monthly meeting Nov. 1 in the Department of Public Works building on Oak Street. One of the most notable highlights from the meeting was news that the Town of Westborough may get control over the Westborough State Hospital property. Committee member and town selectman Ian Johnson updated the committee on the progress of the subcommittee to determine the fate of the state hospital. According to Johnson, the subcommittee recently conducted a successful first meeting with the state to discuss options for the best method to hand over control of the development of the property to Westborough. “This was a positive meeting because they made it clear that they want to work with us to make the outcome …
42.285697
-71.627484
Town of Westborough Department of Public Works
131 Oak St, Westborough, MA
/articles/the-future-of-the-state-hospital-property
806082
/locations/5716629
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
This is like reading the crib notes, isn't it?
The Westborough Board of Selectmen met on Tuesday, Sept. 27 in Town Hall. Here are five things you missed at the meeting: 1. Once an oil company fills a heating tank, the oil is considered “spent” and, therefore, has no market value. That was the lesson for selectmen as Assistant Town Manager Kristi Williams asked the board to approve the disposal of 450 gallons of oil left in the Town Hall tank now that the building has switched to natural gas. “Every year we have so many seniors in need of home heating oil. Can we give it away?” asked Selectman George Thompson. After a short discussion, it was decided that employees of the Department of Public Works will try to pump it out of the tank so that it can be reused. However, the selectmen …
42.276134
-71.565099
Chapel of the Cross
160 Flanders Rd, Westborough, MA
/articles/5-things-you-missed-at-selectmens-meeting
1830359
/locations/5471982
42.24599
-71.60286
Warren St & Upton Rd, Westborough, MA
/articles/5-things-you-missed-at-selectmens-meeting
/locations/5471983
42.285697
-71.627484
Town of Westborough Department of Public Works
131 Oak St, Westborough, MA
/articles/5-things-you-missed-at-selectmens-meeting
806082
/locations/5471984
42.2686
-71.61402
Westborough Town Hall
34 W Main St, Westborough, MA
/articles/5-things-you-missed-at-selectmens-meeting
1909842
/locations/5471985
Friday, June 17, 2011
The town wants to explore more concepts for the redevelopment of the state-owned Westborough State Hospital land.
Westborough residents and officials remain skeptical of proposed reuse concepts for the Westborough State Hospital land, and are holding out for ideas that rely less heavily on residential development. A decision to delay action on the state-owned land was made Thursday night at a public hearing at Westborough High School. Residents are delaying making any decisions until seeing different reuse concepts later this year. The real estate in question sits north of Route 9, includes Lake Chauncy and is zoned in Westborough for mixed use. A small parcel in Northborough is also slated for development. Reuse concepts have included townhouses, apartments, multi-family units, restaurants, shops, assisted living and office space. The two public …
42.26543
-71.618709
Westborough High School
90 W Main St, Westborough, MA
/articles/action-delayed-on-hospital-land-reuse
806332
/locations/4685228
Michael Gelbwasser
10:48 am on Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Hi Townie, Thanks for your comment. What would you like to see at the state hospital? And have you shared your ideas with selectmen or the planning board? MG more ›