Newton City Council Eyes Armory Purchase

NEWTON, MA — The city took a step closer toward acquiring the castle-like National Guard Armory building on Washington Street after the group of residents and a consultant tasked with looking at whether it's feasible for the city to renovate it and turn into affordable housing units declared it was.

The City Council’s Real Property Reuse Committee voted to recommend the city council buy the property and turn it into affordable housing units.

"This vote is a culmination of a nearly two year-long process from when the Commonwealth first approached the City with the opportunity to purchase the Armory for use as either 100 percent affordable housing or a municipal use," said Newton Mayor Ruthanne Fuller in a statement.

The city council is set to take up the question Monday night during its virtual meeting. The meeting begins at 7:45 p.m. and the topic is the last on the agenda.

In 2019 the mayor appointed a Joint Advisory Planning Group made up of nine residents. After a year of research, they voted in November 2020 to recommend that the city move forward to pay the $1 dollar to use the Armory for 100 percent affordable housing, they then put it to the Real Property Reuse Committee, which has now recommended the same.

The city also employed the Boston-based real estate consultant, Affirmative Investments. In its report, the consultant found three financially feasible scenarios — using a combination of federal, state and local funding —for redeveloping the property.

Two of the scenarios envision preserving the front section of the Armory while replacing the rear drill shed with a new structure connected to the historic front façade. The third scenario envisions demolishing the building and starting over from scratch on the same property.

The City Council is expected to vote on the recommendation to purchase the Armory from the state for one dollar, and turn it into 100 percent permanently affordable housing.

Once the purchase is formally approved, the city planning department will then continue to work with Affirmative Investments to draft a Request For Proposals to solicit proposals from developers to convert the Armory into affordable housing.
The mayor said she anticipates the request for proposal will be released in the spring, at which time the city may also assume ownership of the Armory from the State.

The building at 1137 Washington St was most recently used as a recruiting office for the US Army National Guard. In years past, recreational volleyball teams would have their games inside.

The 2010 census had Newton at 32,648 housing units, although the city website puts housing in the city at 31,975 currently. The anticipated total for 2030 for large multi-families with more than 50 units under construction in 2018, include the Austin Street development with 68 and Washington Place with 140.

Read more:

• Could Newton Armory Be Used For Affordable Housing?
• Newton Eyes National Guard Armory To Use For ...
• Newton Commits To Increase Housing As Part Of Area Coalition

Patch reporter Jenna Fisher can be reached at Jenna.Fisher@patch.com or by calling 617-942-0474. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram (@ReporterJenna).