Middlesex Revisited

Last week I mentioned that I wondered what infrastructure would be needed to accommodate all of the building going on Middlesex Turnpike. I also said that “my best guess” would be that Middlesex Turnpike would turn into a mini town center. Well I have found out that there is already infrastructure plans in the works for Middlesex Turnpike. Stage one of the plan is the expansion of Crosby Drive into a three-lane road. Stages two and three will turn Middlesex Turnpike into a three-lane road.

If there is this much development going on Middlesex Turnpike with most of it being driven by 40B and other housing does it make sense to put a three-lane road in? The developers are using the mixed-zoning by-law to also introduce retail which does have some logic too it with all of the housing that will be there. But with a three-lane road is it going to look more like a strip mall atmosphere and make it more difficult for that housing to sell?
My guess is no because of people wanting to move to Bedford for the School system and other things but it will probably not be the most sought after area in Bedford. We (because of 40B) cannot stop housing going in on Middlesex Turnpike but maybe we should reconsider the improvements to the road. There may be better things to do rather that expanding the road to three-lanes. Consider open space, park, fire substation (which land was offered the town to build), and other things to beatify the area rather than speed up the traffic?

Criterion at Bedford, which is going in at 59 and 75 Middlesex Turnpike, had its Public Hearing closed on May 31st. This will add 226 units to Bedford, most of which will be one-bedroom units. It will be rather interesting to find out how many of those units will go to our low income housing pool as well as how it will affect the school system and taxes. I guess at this point we all have to wait and see.

Just for a point of interest, the picture is of one of the new homes that have been built in at Prescott Farms.

Technorati Tags: Middlesex Turnpike, Crosby Drive, Criterion at Bedford, 40B, Prescott Farms

Loose Ends

I want to start by saying we are lucky to be in a town that it is very easy to get information about what is going on. I would like to also thank Adrienne St. John, the town architect, for spending some time with me to answer my questions. Most of this is information I got from her.

First, just an explanation of what it means to “release” the lots for Prescott Farms. Before Freedom Estates can sell any of their lots (even to builders) there needs to be utilities ready for those sites. Freedom Estates is willing to bond (put money down) to guarantee that those utilities will be in place. Even if in the future Freedom Estates goes bankrupt that money will still be available to finish the utilities. Since the bonded money is there they would like those lots to be “released” so they can proceed with the sale of those lots.

The construction going on at the Depot Park now is to handle a water main and drainage. They plan on having the repaving and curbstones put in sometime next week. Longer term (sometime next month), lights are planed for that intersection.

We also talked about some of the infrastructure projects that are going to be happening on the Middlesex Turnpike. I plan on talking about that a little more in a later post. Have a nice weekend!

Technorati Tags: Town of Bedford, MA, Adrienne St. John, Prescott Farms, Freedom Estates, Depot Park, Middlesex Turnpike

Middlesex Turnpike

I went for a drive down Middlesex Turnpike this weekend and a couple of things really struck me. First, I could not get over all of the construction that is going on there. Second, what type of infrastructure improvements are going to be needed to support all of it and lastly, what a large amount of wet / swamplands there are and what effect will all of the construction will have on it. There are four major projects going on there: 54 Middlesex Turnpike, Heritage at Bedford Springs, Criterion at Bedford, and Bedford Woods Condominiums.

The two properties 54 Middlesex and Heritage at Bedford Springs are working together to have a more cohesive site plan. 54 Middlesex wants to add retail space (as well as its office space) to its property. Heritage at Bedford Springs is also looking to add residential and office space, it is still questionable as to whether they will also add retail space.

The Criterion project is much larger. They are looking to add residential, office and retail space in multiple buildings. They are also looking into the prospects of one of those buildings being four stories. Some of the residential units will be counted in Bedford’s affordable housing pool but it is unclear how many units will. Along with this project would be the inclusion of sidewalks and again I am unsure if this would be installed by the town or Criterion.

Lastly, Bedford Woods Condominiums are being built a little further up the road. I do not know much about this project at all. They have a map of the plan outside the site that I plan on looking at in the near future. What I do know is that the 9s must be ecstatic about all of the new people that will be in their back yard. My best guess as to what is going to happen along the Middlesex Turnpike is that eventually they will have their own little “town center” that will consist of a fire substation, some retail stores and restaurants, and some open space.

Technorati Tags: Middlesex Turnpike, 54 Middlesex Turnpike, Heritage at Bedford Springs, Criterion, Bedford Woods Condominiums, 99 Restaurant

Odds and Ends

According to the Bedford Minuteman local towns are still concerned about the outcome of Hanscom AFB. I realize that there will be regional meetings that the BRAC commission will be holding this Summer and that they will be in the Boston area on July 6th but I didn’t think that there is still a chance that the Base could be close. I was more under the impression that Otis Air National Guard Base would be fighting for its life. Any information people have would be greatly appreciated.

Freedom Estates, which is creating Prescott Farms, has asked for the “release” of 19 lots on their new Liberty Road. They have already put up a couple of homes all in the $800,000 price range along the end of South Road. Not exactly sure what the “release” means, if anyone could educate me on this I’d appreciate it.

As far as I know the design of the Blue Ribbon Dairy site is still a bit up in the air. The planning board is still push for all parking in the rear while the developers want parking in both the front and the rear. I have not heard much about Avalon Bay recently. There has been nothing new on Citizen for a Safe Bedford in quite a long time while Avalon Bay’s development is going up extremely fast. The Bedford location is still not mentioned on their web site. There is still talk about “Industrial Mixed Use” at 180-184 Hartwell, the Raytheon Facility Site, by National Development but I do not know what their plans are. There is also the question of the contaminated soil that is there and who would be paying for clean-up. Lastly, there is still work being done on the Depot Park but I’m not exactly sure what they are doing. All I know is that over the next week they plan on repaving and putting in granite curb stones at the intersection of South and Loomis.

As always any information you can provide, comments, or suggestions are very welcome.

Technorati Tags: BRAC, Freedom Estates, Prescott Farms, Blue Ribbon Dairy, Avalon Bay, National Development, Depot Park, Bedford Minuteman, Hanscom Air Force Base, Otis Air National Guard, Citizen for a Safe Bedford

Westboro Baptist Church Protest

This is a little off the topic but I had to make mention of it. The Westboro Baptist Church will be at the middle school Monday to protest. If you do venture to their web site you will see they are a group of under educated people that are trying to spread hate. I would like to suggest to all of you parents of middle school students to just give them a nice long weekend and skip the event all together. Just my two cents…

My next post I am planning on talking about the construction along the Middlesex Turnpike, specifically: Criterion development, Heritage at Bedford Springs, Bedford Woods condominiums.



Technorati Tags: Westboro Baptist Church, Middlesex Turnpike, Criterion development, Heritage at Bedford Springs, Bedford Woods condominiums