ARMORY COMPREHENSIVE PERMIT ZBA APPROVAL

The City's Zoning Board of Appeals unanimously approved Metro West/Civico Development's request for a Chapter 40B Comprehensive Permit on January 11, 2023.  The developer's presentation to the ZBA can be found here.

Project Status 

To view the Comprehensive Permit Application please click here

Project Eligible Letter Approval

Request for Project Eligibility

Project Eligibility Application

CHAPTER 40B/COMPREHENSIVE PERMIT

Chapter 40B is a state statute that encourages the development of low- and moderate-income housing by providing a streamlined permitting process and relief from local zoning requirements.  Also known as the Comprehensive Permit Law, Chapter 40B was enacted in 1969 to help address the shortage of affordable housing in Massachusetts.  The law requires that at least 20-25 percent of units in a development have long-term affordability restrictions.  Under Chapter 40B, the local Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) is the permit granting authority.  The ZBA must review and make decisions (approve, approve with conditions, or deny comprehensive permits) in a public hearing setting.  The State Housing Appeals Committee hears appeals for projects in communities that have less than 10 percent of their housing affordable to low- and moderate-income households.

A prerequisite to filing with the ZBA for a comprehensive permit is the issuance of a Project Eligibility Letter from a subsidizing agency.  The Sponsor has submitted an application for project eligibility to the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development (the Subsidizing agency).

Resources

Chapter 40B Fact Sheet

Rules of the Newton Zoning Board of Appeals

Developer Selection 

Following the recommendation of the City's Armory Evaluation Committee, the Mayor has selected Metro West Collaborative Development/Civico Development  to undertake the exciting process of transforming the Armory into 100% permanently affordable housing.  The Metro West Collaborative Development/Civico Development proposal can be viewed here with their Supportive Services and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Commitment Statement viewable here.

To learn about the Mayor's selection, read her December 16, 2021 newsletter here. 

Armory Development Proposals 

On July 1, 2021 the City released a RFP to solicit proposals from qualified developers to transform the Armory into 100% permanently affordable housing.  The deadline for submissions to the RFP was September 30, 2021.

The City received seven proposals in response to the RFP.  All of the proposals can be found here.    A one-page matrix summarizing key components of each proposal can be viewed here.

 In addition, each proposer has submitted an executive summary slide deck of their proposal.  To view each slide deck, please click on the proposer's name below: 

   1) 2Life Communities 

   2) Caritas Communities

   3) Cruz Development Corporation

   4) Genesis Companies 

   5) Metro West Collaborative Development & Civico Development 

   6) Newton Community Development Corporation with Planning Office for Urban Affairs

   7) Onyx Group 

 Evaluation Committee 

The Mayor convened an Evaluation Committee to assist her selection of developer for the project. 

The Committee included the following members: 

Amanda Berman, Director of Housing and Community Development, City of Newton

Eliza Datta, Member Newton Housing Partnership/ Community Preservation Committee

Hattie Kerwin Derrick, Director of Community Engagement and Inclusion, City of Newton

Barney Heath, Director of Planning and Development, City of Newton

Andrea Kelley, Newton City Councilor (Ward 3)

Peter Sargent, Former Chair of the Community Preservation Committee 

Alejandro Valcarce, AIA and Deputy Commissioner of Public Buildings, City of Newton

Jonathan Yeo, Chief Operating Officer, City of Newton

Deborah Youngblood, Commissioner of Health & Human Services, City of Newton

Background

The West Newton Armory has long been a fixture at its location on 1135 Washington Street.  Built between 1910 – 1912, the Armory housed the Massachusetts State National Guard for over 100 years.  Due to the changing needs of the National Guard over the past century, armories of this vintage are obsolete.  Following the similar aged armories throughout the Commonwealth, the Massachusetts National Guard has decommissioned the West Newton Armory by transferring management control to the Commonwealth’s Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance (DCAMM). 

Project Overview

Shortly after assuming management responsibilities of the West Newton Armory, DCAMM declared the Amory to be a surplus property as no other State agency expressed interest in its use.  Following protocol, DCAMM then offered the City of Newton the right of first refusal to purchase the Armory under two separate options.  First, DCAMM would offer the Armory to Newton for $1.00 if the City restricted its future use to 100% affordable housing.  If the City decided against a future housing use, but desired the Armory for a municipal use (i.e. police station or library), DCAMM would offer an acquisition price based upon the Armory’s appraised value for that particular use.  If the City chose not to exercise its right to acquire the Armory, DCAMM had the option to sell the Armory via a bid process.  The terms of this sale are authorized in Special Legislation approved by the Massachusetts State Legislature.   

To ensure the City made an informed decision on the future use of the Amory, City Ordinance directed the City Council to refer the issue to its Real Property Reuse Committee.  On September 17, 2019 the Committee determined that the Armory be made available for sale or lease.  In doing so, the Committee asked the Mayor and Council to create a Joint Advisory Planning Group (JAPG) and appoint its nine members.  The JAPG worked with the City’s Planning Department to identify a future use of the Armory through the submission of a written report to the Real Property Reuse Committee.  

In November 2020, the JAPG submitted its written report to the Committee.   Following its review of the report, as well as the feasibility report submitted by the City's housing consultant, the Committee held a public hearing and voted in January 2021 to recommend that the Mayor purchase the Armory from the State for $1.00 for redevelopment into 100% affordable housing. On February 1, 2021 the full City Council voted to affirm this recommendation.  

Project Resources

1.  The Mayor’s Memorandum on May 10, 2019 to the City Council regarding the West  Newton Armory 

2.  The Public Building Commissioners Assessment of the West Newton Armory.   

 3.  DCAMM’s 2018 Report of the Facilities Condition 

 4.  Special Legislation - signed by Governor and enacted August 14, 2020 

 5. Housing Consultant Introductory Presentation - 9/10/20                                     

 6. Housing Consultant Development Scenario Presentation 

7. Housing Consultant Updated Narrative and Analysis                                         

a. Updated Narrative 

b. Feasibility Analysis

c. Floor Plan Example

d. Elevation Example   

e. Site Plan Example 

 8. JAPG Final Recommendation and Report 

9. Housing Consultant Final Draft Report 

10. Housing Consultant Presentation to City Council Real Property Reuse Committee

11. Armory Affordable Housing Development RFP

12. Combined Notice of No Significant Impact and Intent to Request Release of Funds