How did 40 acres of forested land, so valuable to our Town and environment, end up for sale to finance a new building? 

MassBay has added 45 acres of land - outlined in red below - to the Surplus Land Inventory, to be sold to a developer and used through the new Affordable Homes Act (AHA)

This land is directly adjacent to Centennial Reservation's 40 acres. 

This is a State-sponsored project which does not go through the Town's normal zoning and approval process. 

State land to be sold outlined in "red" above.
Map is hand illustrated, lines are approximate. 

• The "top half" of what we think of as Centennial Reservation is actually owned by the State
• Combined these 80 acres are the largest forested lands in Wellesley - an amazing natural resource, providing clean air and water, stormwater capture, wildlife habitat, and recreation
• Massive construction and development would erode this natural resource. 
• Proceeds from the land sale will partially fund a new $75 Million dollar academic building on the main campus at 50 Oakland Street.
• New location, costs and phasing of the 650 students parking spaces are unknown.
• The sale value of the land to a developer is unknown.
• The date for the issuance of an RFP (Request for Proposal) to developers is unknown. 
• Whether the 180 units can be clustered on the parking lot is unknown. 

The State's new Affordable Homes Act allows "by right" zoning, and limits a municipality's ability to control the permitting. It stipulates a minimum of 180 units to be built "by right" on this 45 acre parcel. (4 units per acre), and fastracks development. DCAMM and EOHLC* have informed the Town that this project is on a fast timeline, yet we know no details about the project. 

*DCAMM: Department of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance

*EOHLC: Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities

WHAT CAN YOU DO?! 

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Contact the following officials and agencies regarding the MassBay Land Sale and Proposed Development at 40 Oakland Street:

• David Podell, MassBay President: dpodell@massbay.edu

• MassBay Trustees via Jeremy Solomon, MassBay Communications: jsolomon@massbay.edu

• DCAMM (Department Capital Management and Maintenance) at realestate.dcamm@mass.gov

• Michael Feloney, DCAMM: Michael.Feloney@mass.gov

• Edward Augustus, Massachusetts Secretary of Housing and Livable Communities: ed.augustus@mass.gov

and, Copy our elected officials:

• Wellesley Select Board: Sel@WellesleyMa.gov

• Rep. Alice Peisch: Alice.Peisch@mahouse.gov

• Senator Cynthia Creem: Cynthia.Creem@masenate.gov

“Public Speak” at Town government meetings. Find Agendas here.

This is a Town-wide issue. Speak with your friends and neighbors and encourage their involvement. Thank you. 

TAKE A DEEPER DIVE:

• Town Project Website

• MassBay Slide Presentation to Select Board

• affordable-homes-act-section-122

• Wellesley Property Added to Inventory of State Land to be Used for New Housing

• State Land for Homes, Upcoming Parcels

• Gov. Healey unveils plan to cut environmental rules to fast-track housing development

• Healy-Driscoll Administration Launches Nation-Leading Plan to Protect Nature and Wildlife