Pre-construction work is underway at 100-110 West St. as the site is being prepped for the demolition of the existing structure and construction of a new three-story, 189-unit apartment building.
The work has required the installation of Jersey barriers and fencing along the building’s more than 600 feet of frontage on Highland Avenue, eliminating access to the sidewalk and on-street parking spaces. Those barriers were approved by the Needham engineering department and are expected to remain in place for much of the duration of the construction project.
The abatement work is being done while the owner, Greystar, awaits a demolition permit from the town’s building department. The town’s permit process requires reviews and signoffs from multiple town departments.
In addition, Greystar has needed to obtain approvals from gas and electric utilities, notify the MBTA that it is doing work that abuts their commuter rail line and send certified letters to abutters.
Within the town, the application needs to be reviewed by the water, sewer, fire and conservation departments. The Public Health Division also needs to act on the permit. This requires a rodent/pest inspection intended to help mitigate the spread of rat populations that can be displaced when a structure is demolished.
Town officials said Needham Public Health inspected the outside of the property and a pest control company inspected the inside Dec. 22, with neither observing evidence of rodent infestation. Going forward, the contractor will set up rat traps prior to demolition and a pest control company will make weekly visits.
Public Health is also awaiting an asbestos report.
The building has been vacant since February 2018, when Kindred Healthcare ceased operations. There have been informal reports of various critters having taken up residence in the nearly 200,000-square-foot building.
Asked for comment on the process, Greystar provided a statement from its Director of Development, Tim Beinert.
“Greystar is in the midst of development activity on the 100-110 West Street project in Needham, Mass. with delivery anticipated in fall 2027. In the near term, demolition will follow abatement, which is expected to take place over the next month, and a permit for this work is anticipated to be issued imminently. In accordance with our Construction Management Plan, Jersey barriers will be in place for most of the construction timeline.”
The project was facilitated by the town’s new zoning under the MBTA Communities Law, which eliminated the need for a special permit process. Instead, the Planning Board conducted a less-stringent site plan review of the project before issuing its decision in November, clearing the way for Greystar to move forward.
While Greystar was the applicant before the Planning Board, the South Carolina-based firm did not take ownership of the property until earlier this year. It bought the site for $40 million from the Ohio-based real estate investment trust Welltower, which paid $14 million for the property in 2002.
Greystar also announced it had obtained a $69.5 million construction loan for the project. The plan anticipates a mix of 30 studios, 84 one-bedroom, 58 two-bedroom and 17 three-bedroom units, with 24 units designated as affordable to households earning up to 80% of area median income.
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