Another Setback for Langwood Commons
Published on July 25th, 2007
STONEHAM, MA - Yet another setback to the stalled Langwood Commons development, the Mass. Historical Commission (MHC) recently rejected a Florida consultant firm's proposal last December to completely rehash the design of the Fells Reservation Parkways.
In a letter issued at the end of last June, MHC Executive Director Brona Simon opines that the modifications to the parkway would destroy the historical character of the roadways, which were listed on the National Registrar of Historic Places in 2003.
Simon's correspondence was submitted after representatives from the Dept. of Conservation of Recreation (DCR), local environmental groups, and the Langwood Commons developers held a May 9 consultation meeting on the proposal.
"After review of the materials you submitted, the Massachusetts Historical Commission has determined that the proposed Langwood Commons new roadway changes, as depicted on the plan submitted May 21, 2007, will still result in adverse effects, to the Middlesex Fells Reservation Parkways Historic District," the MHC executive director wrote.
Last December, after meeting with various stakeholders, consultants from Florida-based firm Glatting Jackson Kercher Anglin pitched a new design for the parkways that would shut down the southbound lanes of the roadways closest to Spot Pond.
Those two vehicle lanes would then be converted into pedestrian and bicycle pathways under the plan, and the northbound side of Woodland Road would carry two-way traffic.
Although Burlington's The Gutierrez Company, which has been stymied for seven years in its attempts to develop the abutting Boston Regional Medical Center (BRMC) site, footed the $60,000 bill for the design work, DCR initiated the planning process as part of its efforts to improve its parkways.
According to the consultants, the alterations would calm speeding cars, make the Fells Reservation more user friendly, and discourage commuters from using the parkways as a cut-through.
The Glatting recommendations were in direct contrast to previous roadway widening plans previously presented by The Gutierrez Company, which wants to build a mixed-use affordable housing and commercial office space complex.
However, since the Florida firm issued its final December report, The Gutierrez Company, as well as co-developer Simpson Housing, LP, have endorsed the plan, which is also supported by DCR officials.
According to Simon, MHC considers the proposed alterations, which would extend all the way to Molineau Circle, where a redesigned roundabout is planned, to be too widespread. In addition, the state agency also has concerns about how the closure of two lanes along Woodland Road would impact regional traffic patterns.
"While the previous proposal had a number of localized adverse effects, this new proposal has more widespread effects," Simon concluded. "MHC requests at this time to continue consultation with the DCR, the project proponent, and interested parties to explore alternatives. MHC is also interested in receiving comments from the Massachusetts Highway Department concerning the transportation implications for regional traffic patterns resulting from this new proposal," the correspondence continues.
According to Gutierrez Company project manager William Caulder, the Langwood Commons developers were not entirely surprised by MHC's initial response to the consulting firm's December proposal. The project proponents plan to continue meeting with state officials in the near future, with the hopes of reconfiguring the roadway improvement plan in a way that meets MHC's expectations.
"It's a substantial deviation from our original submission, which were conventional improvements. This was much more outside the box," said Gutierrez Company project manager Bill Caulder, who was not surprised by MHC's initial reaction.
"I think they like the plan, but from a historical perspective, when you change anything, it has an impact," Caulder furthered. "We're going to continue working with DCR and MHC to come to some compromise on how to mitigate the impacts to the parkways."
Also not surprised by the recent opinion, Friends of the Fells Executive Director Mike Ryan, who has long opposed the redevelopment plans presented by The Gutierrez Company over the past seven years, welcomed Simon's stance. According to the environmental activist, he too shares MHC's concerns about how the reservation reconfigurations would impact present-day regional traffic patterns, never mind if the Langwood Commons project is approved.
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