Who is a member?
Our members are the local governments of Massachusetts and their elected and appointed leadership.
The West Newton Armory project will have 43 total units, 15 of which are reserved for households earning up to 30% of the area median income, and 28 units of which are for households earning up to 60% of area median income. (Photo courtesy city of Newton, Metro West Collaborative Development, and Civico Development)
A historic armory along the Massachusetts Turnpike in Newton will soon see new life as an affordable housing development.
A groundbreaking ceremony was held on June 8 at the castle-like West Newton Armory, at 1135-1137 Washington St., which will be converted into 43 units of affordable housing, with scheduled completion in the winter of 2026-27.
The building, constructed between 1910 and 1912, featured unique characteristics such as an indoor horse stable and shooting range. The Massachusetts National Guard operated the site for more than 100 years, until the building no longer met its needs. The Guard then transferred management to the Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance, which declared it a surplus property.
In 2021, the state gave the city of Newton two options: the city could purchase the building for $1 and restrict future uses to affordable housing, or the state would sell the building to the city at a market rate with no restrictions.
“It was an exciting day when the state reached out to us saying that the West Newton Armory was available for the city of Newton to purchase,” said Newton Mayor Ruthanne Fuller. “The option of affordable housing there got us immediately excited.”
The armory’s proximity to local transit options, as well as retail and grocery stores, makes it prime real estate for affordable housing.
Fuller said rising housing costs have made it difficult for people who work in Newton to find a place to live. The armory project represents an opportunity to “open the doors of Newton wider, so that we have a range of people who can afford to live here.”
“We are a stronger city when we have a broad range of people living here,” Fuller said.
The sale agreement made its way through Newton City Council, the Legislature, and the governor’s office before Newton formally acquired the property in the early fall of 2021. Fuller credited Sen. Cynthia Creem, Rep. Kay Kahn and staff at the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities for their help.
Fuller said that the city prioritized creating as many affordable housing units as possible with the armory project, with added emphasis on historic preservation and sustainability.
The project went out to bid in July of 2021, and Metro West-Civico was selected as the city’s redevelopment partner. The project made its way through various stages of public engagement and committee hearings.
The housing includes 15 one-bedroom units, 21 two-bedroom units, and seven three-bedroom units. Fifteen of these units will be reserved for households earning up to 30% of the area median income, and 28 units will be available for households earning up to 60% of the area median income.
One of the critical components for developing new affordable housing, said Newton Planning Director Barney Heath, is “you’ve got to find a place” where development is possible.
“If you have a municipally owned site, you can do away with the land costs,” he said.
Selecting such a visible unique building was a way for the city to “make it very apparent that Newtonians truly care about having a wonderful mix of people of all ages living in our community,” Fuller said, “and that we are excited to welcome them in such a visible way.”