Concord Housing Development Holds Community Workshop For New Open Space

From the Town of Concord:

WEST CONCORD, MA— The Concord Housing Development Corporation (CHDC) is in the process of creating a plan for the open space portion of the site of the future Junction Village assisted living facility. The CHDC is a non-profit housing corporation created by the Town of Concord and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to investigate and implement affordable housing opportunities in the Town of Concord. The CHDC will host a community workshop to discuss possible use of the open space on May 17, 2016 at the Harvey Wheeler Community Center in West Concord. The workshop will be facilitated by planning consultant JM Goldson community preservation + planning.

Acquired in 2013 from the Commonwealth and Department of Corrections, the 12.8-acre site sits behind the MCI Concord prison and abuts the Assabet River, the Nashoba Brook and the future Bruce Freeman Rail Trail. CHDC selected the Grantham Group developers to build an 83-unit assisted living facility through a RFP process. The proposal will require a Comprehensive Permit under Chapter 40B. Roughly six of the twelve acres will be devoted to public open space. Within short walking distance of West Concord Village, the open space parcel can increase connectivity and create an additional open space amenity for the community.

The community workshop on May 17th will include an optional site walk on the property followed by a presentation and small group exercises at the Harvey Wheeler Center. The purpose of the workshop is to introduce community members to the project and the site, and to gauge public support for various uses of the open space. Possibilities include but are not limited to: community garden, walking paths, canoe launch, intergenerational play space, playing fields, dog park, and landscaped gardens.

The community feedback generated during the workshop will inform the plans for the open space at Junction Village and future use of the site.

Junction Village Open Space Plan Community Workshop
Part 1:

What: Site walk + tour

Where: Meet at Harvey Wheeler Community Center

1276 Main St, Concord 01742

When: May 17th from 4:45-6:15PM

Part 2:

What: Community Workshop

Where: Harvey Wheeler Community Center

1276 Main St, Concord 01742

When: May 17th from 6:30-9:00PM

RSVP: Pre-register by May 17, 2016 here.

IMPORTANT: Although this is an open public meeting and registration is not required to attend, your RSVP will help us provide adequate refreshments and workshop materials.

Town of Concord
Planning Division
141 Keyes Road Concord, Massachusetts 01742
Phone: (978)-318-3290