Jericho Hill: Waltham City Council Considers Open Space Swap

WALTHAM, MA —Waltham city council is considering a resolution that would ask the school department to set aside about 6 acres of property at the new high school to be used as open space in perpetuity in exchange for use of Jericho Hill.

In March, the City Council voted to transfer about 6 acres of property known as Jericho Hill to the School Department for possible use as parking and athletic facilities for the new high school on the adjacent land.

The building of a new high school at the former home of the Stigmatine Fathers and Brothers religious order on Lexington Street has polarized the city and been years in the making. In February, the Massachusetts School Building Authority voted to green light a $118,373,814 grant for the new high school to be built on that land. The new school is scheduled to open in late August 2024. However, the Massachusetts Environmental Protection Act (MEPA), Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the MSBA required the district to reduce the environmental impact of the project. The transfer of the adjacent Jericho Hill land is one possible solution that would move the building project away from wetlands on site.

The Waltham Land Trust and other advocates for open space in the city, pushed back, arguing the city-owned land at Jericho Hill has been used by residents for nearly 20 years as open space and since 2001 Waltham has included it the city's open space plan.

READ MORE: Waltham Land Trust Position Against Transfer of Jericho Hill

In response, Councilor Caren Dunn, of Ward 2, and Councilor at Large Carlos Vidal are proposing the school department set aside a similar site at 554 Lexington St to be used as open space in perpetuity and to connect with the Western Greenway as proposed in 2001. According to a resolution, which was sent to the Committee on the Whole to be reviewed, the land would be conservation restricted, and the stone walls, some of which date back to the 1600s be preserved and protected.

"Obviously the building plans are still in progress, but it's good to start the dialogue on this issue," said Dunn Tuesday night during the city council meeting.

There's more to read on this:

• Waltham Council Approves $11M More For Stigmatine Property (Jan 2020)
• MSBA Approves $118 Million Grant for New High School (Feb. 2020)

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).