Winchester Waterfield Commons project still has a way to go before construction begins

If you’ve driven by the Waterfield lot recently, you may be wondering why there’s no construction going on for the proposed affordable housing project known as Waterfield Commons.

That’s because it’s not a done deal.

Even though Gov. Maura Healey was in town on July 31 to announce nearly $200 million in tax credits across 21 sites to create nearly 1,300 new homes in communities, such as Winchester, developers said there’s still a way to go when it comes to nailing down the final details.

“It’s a huge milestone to be awarded funding,” said Taylor Bearden, a partner at Civico Development. “But there’s still a certain amount of work that needs to be done to get the project started.”

The state credits were made possible through the Affordable Homes Act, which Healey signed in August 2024, and what she called “a historic tax cut” passed several years ago.

According to Mass.gov, the Affordable Homes Act authorizes $5.16 billion in spending over the next five years along with nearly 50 policy initiatives to counter rising housing costs caused by high demand and limited supply.

Bearden said Civico and its partner, Causeway Development, will now receive the allotted credits for Waterfield Commons, along with a number of other resources being provided by the state.

The project is estimated at $43 million for 56 units, of which 40 will be affordable housing. The affordable units will be at or below 60% of the Area Median Income (AMI).

So what’s left before the shovels go in the ground?

Bearden said developers are still working the final details of the ground lease, which will establish the specific terms and priorities for the project.

Although he said the process could take up to a year, Bearden said he was hopeful it would be quicker.

“Once we close on that, we start construction,” he said. “That could be in about eight to 12 months.”

And once construction starts, Bearden estimated it would take between 18-24 months until the project is complete.

“But it’s still a long haul between this announcement and that,” he pointed out.

And yet, Bearden said it’s exciting to think the project is so close to construction, especially given its long history. He said the location so close to public transit and the eye towards mixed income make it unique.

“It’s a tremendous location,” he said. “It’s downtown, very walkable…it just checks so many of the boxes we were seeking to check.”

Plus there will be two levels of structured parking for not only residents of Waterfield Commons, but the public. He said the project will provide 71 public parking spaces and about 48 private spaces for residents.

Although the residential parking is less than a 1 to 1 scale, Bearden said it’s feasible when you look at other transit-oriented projects.

He added there’s always going to be room to make changes in the future should there be a need for adjustment.

Winchester housing advocates are also excited by the funds that were given out by the state.

“It’s so exciting,” said Affordable Housing Trust Chair Marty Jones, of the project. “I’m a strong believer in all of us helping build economic development.”

She added the people who will live at the new Waterfield Commons will be able to walk downtown, buy coffee, shop…contribute to the overall economy of the town. And the project will contribute to the housing stock that’s so badly needed in Winchester.

“The inventory in Winchester is low,” Jones said. “There’s affordable rental housing for seniors, but you don’t have a lot of family development. There’s a few, but it’s scattered.”

She added many people hear the term “affordable housing” and automatically assume it will be Section 8, low-income housing. The reality, she said, is that the 60% AMI at Waterfield will bring in working-class families to the community.

And that, she said, is what makes the project so different from anything else being built in town at the moment.

“Waterfield is a very unique property,” Jones said.

The Select Board couldn't agree more.

“The Waterfield Commons development project is an example of perseverance and good government.  Over the past decade, Winchester residents have steadfastly supported the town’s strategy to address deficiencies in transit-oriented affordable housing and public transportation, with an eye toward stimulating economic development in our vibrant downtown,” said Select Board member Michael Bettencourt in an email. “Both projects received profound support from our state delegation, the governor’s office, and local stakeholder groups, positioning Winchester to succeed against all odds. With the recent opening of the new MBTA station, construction will soon begin on this much-needed housing development, which will serve our community for years to come.”

A long road

During her presentation on July 31, Healey said she was excited by Waterfield Commons, which she called “cool.”

“This is a really cool project,” she told the gathered crowd on July 31. “It’s beautifully designed. It’ll be beautifully built. It’s right next to a commuter rail. We talk about transit-oriented development. Makes a lot of sense, right? You wake up next to the place where you can get on a train and get into work. It’s also in a town center, which is walkable and accessible.”

Healey went on to say Waterfield Commons is the type of development the state is “excited about and pleased to support.”

Select Board Chair Michelle Prior, who introduced Healey, also told the gathered crowd of residents, town and state officials that the Waterfield project has been years in the making.

“The Waterfield Commons project took many years of hard work, rounds of negotiations with the developer and the MBTA, two Town Meeting votes, and a townwide referendum to get us to where we are today,” Prior said.

She added, “Winchester’s commitment to affordable and transit-oriented housing spans more than a decade.”

From the town’s first Housing Production Plan to creating the Affordable Housing Trust in 2019, the passage of an updated Accessory Dwelling Unit bylaw in 2024 and the adoption of the Community Preservation Act in 2024, Prior said Winchester is proud of its continued movement to provide affordable housing and creative options to residents.

“We are proud of many town led partnerships like Waterfield Commons. We will have a 40B development built at the corner of Washington and Swanton streets and a more modest project currently underway on Cross Street wherein the town worked with the owner/developer to include additional affordable units its design,” Prior said in July. “When finished, these projects will create dozens of units of affordable housing available to renters from a wide range of income levels.”