By Bonnie Adams
Government Editor
Westborough – Now that the Westborough State Hospital complex is closed, someone will develop the property, but who that will be and what will occur there is still up in the air. This was about the only consensus agreed upon by representatives from a state commission and Westborough and Northborough officials who spoke at a public forum held June 15 at the Westborough State Hospital.
When the complex was closed by the state last year, a special re-use commission was formed to analyze and decide what the future of the 108 acres would be. Sasaki Associates, Inc, a Watertown firm, was hired by the state's Division of Capital Asset Management (DCAM) to assess the property and come up with potential concepts. The three proposals Sasaki submitted heavily emphasized a residential (ranging from 491 to 596 Westborough units and 26 Northborough units) component rather than a business or industrial angle to the development of the property.
Those proposals, which were presented in a series of earlier forums to local officials as well as members of the public, have not been met with any measure of approval.
At the June 16 meeting, DCAM Commissioner Carole Cornelison, the chair of the re-use commission, cautioned those in attendance to bear in mind that the proposals were not “set plans but rather concepts.”
“We will go through this together,” she said. “No plan has been approved yet nor will one be pushed down.”
The site's many historic buildings, many of which are on the National Historic Register, have also been a point of concern. Many of the buildings are in poor shape and would need to have extensive and expensive rehabilitation in order to be made usable once again. Brandee Loughlin, a preservation planner with the Massachusetts Historical Commission (MHC), spoke to the audience in an attempt to clarify the issues concerning those buildings.
The state commission's role, she said, was merely “consultative.” It was ultimately up to the National Historic Commission to make any final decisions, she added, on whether or not a building must be saved.
“We just want to make sure all alternatives are considered before anything can be demolished or changed,” she said. It was also important to remember, she added, that it was not just the buildings themselves that were considered historical. Many of the grounds, including the “Great Lawn” were also in that category as well.
If a potential developer did anything to change the historic designation of the buildings or lands, they may possibly lose out on certain tax credits, she said.
Also at issue is the fact that there are currently three Division of Youth Services (DYS) facilities still in use on the property. The state's DYS Commissioner Jane Tewksbury told the audience that the DYS ultimately wants the three facilities to be combined in one of the current buildings, the Zara Cisco Brough Center, as well as in a new building that DYS is hoping to build in the near future.
“We have been at this site for 180 years,” she said. “We are committed to retaining a friendly and cooperative relationship with Westborough.”
Several members of the audience expressed frustration that the state had still not decided on an asking price for the entire Westborough State Hospital property.
Cornelison replied that it was difficult to state a definitive answer as there were still mitigating factors that had to be analyzed.
“We need to look at the fair market value but you can also look at it short term versus long term,” she said.
Cornelison said that comments made at these meetings, as well as past ones, will be reviewed with the consultants over the next several months. Local officials and members of the public will be invited to future public forums before a final report is completed by the end of the year.