South Weymouth NAS Redevelopment | Southfield | Weymouth

[jklo]

Since theres a massive housing crisis in the state and this project has mostly stalled/failed, but theres a ton of open land here close to Boston ready for redevelopment and a commuter rail station, I dont understand why they cant just lay down a bare bones street grid and build 100 5 over 1’s. That little tech city thing they planned was cute, but not gonna happen, so why not just build a shit ton of dense housing? Hell they could even find a way to fit some public housing in here too. The state should be really pushing to try to get something going here. The ironic part is that if they just threw a square street grid over the airport and then filled it in with 100 generic 5 over 1’s it would end up being a much more enjoyable and livable city than the masterplanned city they had planned before.

I mean, there's a reason this project was a failure.

 

[Equilibria]

Since theres a massive housing crisis in the state and this project has mostly stalled/failed, but theres a ton of open land here close to Boston ready for redevelopment and a commuter rail station, I dont understand why they cant just lay down a bare bones street grid and build 100 5 over 1’s. That little tech city thing they planned was cute, but not gonna happen, so why not just build a shit ton of dense housing? Hell they could even find a way to fit some public housing in here too. The state should be really pushing to try to get something going here. The ironic part is that if they just threw a square street grid over the airport and then filled it in with 100 generic 5 over 1’s it would end up being a much more enjoyable and livable city than the masterplanned city they had planned before.

You just described Alewife ..

 

[RandomWalk]

The folks in the area wanted to ensure that the NAS could never be considered as a reliever airport for Logan, while simultaneously preserving their towns in amber. In that light, the project is a smashing success.

 

[Equilibria]

This is very much alive with credible new developers, but it definitely won't be called "Union Point".

@BeeLine suggest renaming the thread to "South Weymouth NAS Redevelopment | SouthField".

https://www.southfieldra.com/uploads/2/3/5/6/23561914/swnas_sra_pres_03.15.23_final.pdf

https://www.southfieldra.com/uploads/2/3/5/6/23561914/approved_final_redevelopment_plan_15march2023.pdf

New Southfield Plan Includes Potential for More Housing

The Southfield Redevelopment Authority supported changes that would give the new master development team flexibility to build more housing depending upon market conditions.

bankerandtradesman.com

 

[stick n move]

They should not build any single family homes here whatsoever. Single family homes have no problem being built and can be built anywhere as basically everywhere is zoned for them. They should stick to mixed use and apartments/condos/lofts. This is a pretty big area that could really fit a huge amount of units if it was built dense, theres no reason to waste a ton of space on sfh’s. Theres a ton of potential here, the fact that they actually laid out a grid style street grid in the above pic is a good start.

 

[curcuas]

They should not build any single family homes here whatsoever. Single family homes have no problem being built and can be built anywhere as basically everywhere is zoned for them. They should stick to mixed use and apartments/condos/lofts. This is a pretty big area that could really fit a huge amount of units if it was built dense, theres no reason to waste a ton of space on sfh’s. Theres a ton of potential here, the fact that they actually laid out a grid style street grid in the above pic is a good start.

Basically agree --- in practice loose zoning allowing say 4 plexes everywhere and townhouses would lead to some sfh's being built but I don't trust any Boston suburb to design an sfh district that's not horrendously exclusionary.

 

[dhawkins]

I may be showing my lack of knowledge on this comment (I'm not in real estate or town administration) but when there is this amount of land involved for development, wouldn't you think it would be mandatory for the developer to provide buildings, or at least land, for a new school, fire dept/ police, or minor sewer treatment plant?

 

[jklo]

Given that development hasn't exactly gone well, it's not surprising that they are doing SFH. Even a mill+ SFH would be an easier sell than 700k condos there. There's still a very large contingent that only wants SFH.

 

[jklo]

Boston suburb to design an sfh district that's not horrendously exclusionary.

New Construction has to be expensive enough for the numbers to work that it's going to be exclusionary. Just by the price.

 

[RandomWalk]

The point of any of the NAS development isn’t to build anything. It’s to put a Sherman’s necktie in the in the way using the old NAS as a reliever for Logan. </cynicism>

 

[Equilibria]

The point of any of the NAS development isn’t to build anything. It’s to put a Sherman’s necktie in the in the way using the old NAS as a reliever for Logan. </cynicism>

Maybe at one point, but since the airfield is functionally gone I'd say that earth is pretty well salted.

If a developer is putting time and money into this, certainly their goal is to build something.

 

[Aprehensive_Words]

Also, 3,000 to 4,000 new homes is nothing to sneeze at when various estimates put us tens of thousands of units behind where we need to be just to meet current rental *or* purchase demand.

 

[stick n move]

Looking at union point on apple maps theres been a few sfh’s added near the athletic fields.

Looking to google its called stonebridge at union point.

https://stonebridgehomesinc.com/find-new-homes/stonebridge-at-union-point/

Nothing special just your run of the mill sfh’s with a garage .

https://www.estately.com/listings/info/35-douglas-st-weymouth-ma-02190

 

[KCasiglio]

Weymouth wants to change water source to MWRA. What this will do to water rates

Water rates might get the clicks they need, but of more interest to folks here:

Having this connection would help the buildout of Union Point at the old South Weymouth Naval Air Station. Water supply and wastewater infrastructure for the project has been a lingering concern from state officials.

 

[stick n move]

Apparently theres a private sports academy that has been built here that focuses exclusively on preparing kids to become professional hockey players by having them live, study, and practice all in one place.

From the site:

“Lovell Academy is a boarding school that allows players to skate multiple hours a day, engage in sport specific off-ice training and conditioning and focus on both academic and athletic success.”​

https://lovellacademy.org/academy-life/

Lovell academy

Lovell arena (3 rinks)

West rink

East rink

Center rink

https://integratedbuilders.com/lovell-academy-dorms/

Living at Lovell Academy​

“All 132 student-athletes live, train, and attend school on our 55 acre campus.
The Lovell Academy building contains our academic spaces, our student cafeteria and lounges, and sets of 11 double rooms and a chaperone suite for each of our six teams, grouped together on separate hallways on the second and third floor. All building entrances and dorm rooms feature individualized coded security access.”

https://lovellacademy.org/

How it interfaces with the site:

-So overall it looks like a high quality facility. I cant help but feel though like the way it interfaces with the area is just more of the same suburban disjointed mess. Its built on its own dead end road out in the woods away from everything else and will hardly interact with the rest of the development even when its “eventually” built out.

I feel like this could have been a great anchor project if it was built on the street grid around where the rest of the development is (slowly) happening. Like a college in larger cities a school and some hockey arenas could have been an anchor in the new fledgeling downtown. The students, their friends and families, competitors who travel here to play and their friends and families…etc would create foot traffic that could start to get a couple small businesses going when combined with the other people who live in the neighborhood. The arena probably could have even rented out bays to have concerts, shows, movie nights, flea markets… whatever when the neighborhood grew out a little more.

It wouldnt have been THE catalyst that makes this place start to happen, but it could been another small piece that slowly starts to make this place start to turn into a neighborhood (after they fix the ridiculously stupid street grid and lay down one that makes sense). As this exists now its just more shitty suburban sprawl type development going into one of the most prime real estate parcels left in the state where there is room to build a shit ton of housing all at once. Seems like a wasted opportunity imo.

 

[RandomWalk]

Do they also teach curling, or are they renting ice to a club?

 

[stick n move]

-I copied the entire article since this is from the weymouth town website which is paid for by taxes and is a public good and not somebody's business. If thats not ok let me know and Ill chop it down.

​

Weymouth Awarded $32.4 Million to Support the Redevelopment of Former Naval Air Station​

Multi-phase redevelopment project will create approximately 6,000 new residential units and 2,000,000 square feet of commercial space
POSTED ON: AUGUST 7, 2025 - 11:07AM

“The Town of Weymouth has been awarded $32.4 million from the Commonwealth, which will be administered by the Massachusetts Development Finance Agency (MassDevelopment), for public infrastructure needed to proceed with the redevelopment of the former Naval Air Station in South Weymouth. That redevelopment is expected to create approximately 6,000 new residential units and 2,000,000 square feet of commercial space. As approved by the Southfield Redevelopment Authority, the first component of the project will consist of approximately 1,500 residential units and 200,000 square feet of commercial space. Funding administered by MassDevelopment will advance design and permitting of new water and wastewater infrastructure to serve the site, as well as the design, permitting and construction of roadway improvements to serve the proposed new uses.

“It was fitting that the last document I signed as Mayor was this grant agreement, which reflects the progress we have made putting this important redevelopment back on track after decades of disappointment, said former Weymouth Mayor Robert Hedlund, whose last day as Mayor was July 15, 2025. “This grant award and agreement reflects the strong partnership in place dedicated to the success of this project. I want to especially thank Lt. Governor Kim Driscoll and Speaker Ron Mariano for their hands-on effort and support. The success of this project is the future of Weymouth’s economic stability and growth. And that success has never been more reachable than right now.”

“This grant award is a major milestone in the long-awaited redevelopment of the former South Weymouth Naval Air Station. I want to thank everyone who has come together to help move this important project forward,” said Weymouth Council President and Acting Mayor, Michael Molisse. “A special thanks to my colleagues on the Town Council, who have supported this effort, including approving the new zoning needed, and to Speaker Ron Mariano, Senator Patrick O’Connor,Representative James Murphy, and the Healey-Driscoll Administration, who have all been supportive and effective partners.”

"We are proud to support this project, which will redevelop the long-closed Weymouth Naval Air Station into a vibrant mixed-use community with housing, commercial, and public green space for all to enjoy. This investment will help bring an opportunity for new growth to the Town of Weymouth and will help ensure this 1,400-acre former naval air station is cleaned up and rejuvenated," said Governor Healey. "I'm grateful for the strong leadership of Speaker Mariano and Mayor Hedlund for their tenacity on this game-changing redevelopment project and look forward to working with acting Mayor Michael Molisse as the project progresses."

“The funding that Weymouth is receiving for this project is a significant step towards realizing the decades-long goal of revitalizing a community through the development of thousands of new units of housing, and through the creation of commercial and recreational space that will benefit the residents of Weymouth, Abington and Rockland,” said House Speaker Ronald J. Mariano (D-Quincy). “As a lack of housing continues to drive folks out of Massachusetts, this project is a blueprint for how the Commonwealth can address the housing crisis head on, and bolster economic development at the same time. I want to thank Governor Healey and her team for recognizing the vital importance of this project, and for working with the Town of Weymouth to make this investment a reality.”

“After decades of starts and stops at the former South Naval Air Station the Union Point development has been given a renewed injection of support to move this project forward,” said Senator Patrick O’Connor (R-Weymouth). “The partnership with the community of Weymouth, MassDevelopment, Brookfield Properties and New England Development will set this project on a new path unlocking the potential for smart commercial growth and responsible housing development.”

"This is an important development for the South Shore," said Representative James Murphy (D-Weymouth). "It will provide housing, commercial space, jobs, amenities and open space. This funding will go a long way in continuing the ensure this vital project reaches its full potential and benefits for the area residents."

A recent report by the Healey-Driscoll Administration identified that the state needs to increase its year-round housing supply by at least 222,000 units from 2025 to 2035 to stay competitive and lower costs. The redevelopment of the former Naval Air Station alone would result in approximately 6,000 new housing units. The redevelopment of the former Naval Air Station will require public infrastructure improvements, including a permanent water supply and distribution system, wastewater collection and treatment facilities, and roadway and intersection improvements, all of which will benefit the towns of Weymouth, Abington and Rockland. Legislative efforts to redevelop the former Naval Air Station began when the U.S. Navy closed the base in 1997, after which lawmakers established the South Shore Tri-Town Development Corp. to manage the site. The lack of a permanent water supply has long been identified as an obstacle for the redevelopment of the base. This award will provide initial funding to explore the potential for extending MWRA service from Quincy to Weymouth.

When completed, the redevelopment of the former NAS is estimated to generate over $22 million in new local and state tax revenue. The project will also create thousands of new construction and permanent jobs, and will maintain and enhance approximately 885 acres of open space.”

https://www.weymouth.ma.us/home/news/weymouth-awarded-324-million-to-support-the-redevelopment-of-former-naval-air-station

 

[stick n move]

Found a couple new renders that appear to be showing the new residential plan for the area. The second render includes the new single family houses u/c at the top right of the plan so its very recent.

South Weymouth Naval Air Station Redevelopment - OJB Landscape Architecture

www.ojb.com

I’m sure the nimby neighbors wouldnt like it, but they definitely need to connect this new neighborhood to more of the surrounding street grid. Only having 3 entrances/exits from the area is too few imo.