On Thursday, June 26th at 6:30 p.m., Westwood residents are invited to a community input session via Zoom during which Westwood Select Board will both present what it has identified as two possible paths forward for constructing a new Fire Station 1 (FS1), and also gather community feedback on those options.
The Thursday event, referred to as a listening session, follows the Board’s June 23rd meeting at which Select Board members discussed that the need and urgency for a new fire station remains. Residents at a Special Election on June 3rd rejected raising taxes for the proposed $38.1 million FS1 project in excess of limitations of Proposition 2 ½. Westwood voters cast 1,236 votes against and 1,056 votes in favor of a debt exclusion from Proposition 2 1/2. The vote effectively put the brakes on planned construction.
Town officials now, as they have throughout their campaign to build a new FS1, continue to note that the current fire station on High Street lacks adequate health and safety protections for Westwood’s first responders. They say it is undersized and is outdated. The floor under apparatus is weakening, requires added support, and infrastructure is deteriorating.
At Select Board’s June 23rd meeting , Donald Walter, principal of Dore + Whittier (the architectural firm behind proposed fire station design), recapped a history of the FS1 project and outlined a path forward. He noted that of 5 previously discussed options for a new fire station, two are feasible for moving forward.
What he described as Option 1 is the same design and location that has been under discussion until now. It would build a new, much larger building on the existing site of Fire Station 1 at 637 High Street. It would require a temporary relocation of present fire station operations.
Option 2 is described as building a new fire station at a new location, using town-owned, land-locked property behind the Starbucks on High Street. The location means that the new building would lack street presence and require purchase of private property to connect it to High Street.
Other options on the historical list of possibilities, which were not proposed as the feasible options to pursue at this time, were:
In comparing Option 1 (recently met by a mixed reception by voters) with Option 2 (relocation of the fire station to a land-locked area behind Starbucks on High Street) Mr. Walter noted that $3.5 million has already been spent in design and bidding process for Option 1. He noted that contractors are holding construction costs, at least for now, at the estimated cost of $38.1 million. He suggested that the Town of Westwood could hold a subsequent re-vote on the Option 1 design, despite a decision by the majority of voters not to pursue its associated construction costs on June 3rd. A re-vote could happen after September 15th, the date through which he says the state requires the town to abide by the Special Election vote of June 3, he said.
In contrast to Option 1, the costs of Option 2 are more unknown, said Mr. Walter. A new design of a fire station in a new location could potentially save costs with smaller square footage. Option 2 would also create an opportunity for revenue through selling the existing Fire Station 1 location for commercial use. But savings and revenue opportunities may be offset by costs of acquiring private property to access High Street; the expenditure of a sprung structure to shore up the existing station's apparatus floor while Option 2 progresses; new design costs; and possible cost escalations to construction with the passage of time. Option 2 would push the project completion timeline out about 1 to 1.5 years, said Mr. Walter. Although it must be noted that Option 2 costs and savings are more speculative than those of Option 1, Mr. Walter’s opinion was that Option 2 would cost an estimated $41.8 million.
While minimizing response time is a determinant to locating the fire station, when it comes to design, the health and safety of the firefighters is paramount, said Mr. Walter. Clean spaces are needed for living, and they should be separated from contaminated spaces. Currently, firefighters’ turnout gear and equipment is stored in an area with apparatus and in sunlight, putting the gear at risk of both contamination from particulate matter and degradation from sunlight. Gender neutral spaces are needed with a modern-day, coed staff. Living spaces must be well-ventilated and showers must be readily accessible. Onsite training space allows firefighters to go straight from training to a service call, instead of having to respond from a more distant training location. Dore + Whittier’s design has also anticipated for future needs, says Mr. Walter.
“We’re always looking forward to see what might be coming next to make sure we’re providing most appropriate facility,” he said.
Westwood Fire Chief Steven Lund noted that Westwood Fire Department’s current staffing model, operating from two stations, impacts the number of staff and their associated work and living spaces. He noted that Westwood is able to respond efficiently and requires less mutual aid assistance than other towns. He commented that other small towns in the area respond from one fire station, while Westwood responds from two stations, “which is why we go to Norwood and Needham a lot,” he said.
“We all here understand that it is painful to ask residents to pay more in taxes. It is the unfortunate reality for getting a project like this done,” said Select Board Member Marianne LeBlanc Cummings. She noted that many in Westwood agree with the need for a new station and opined that a broader discussion with the community is important for going forward.
Select Board Chair Robert Gotti agreed with Ms. Cummings that it is Westwood Select Board’s responsibility to ensure that a new fire station is, in fact, built. “I want to assure the community, and especially the brave men and women of the Westwood Fire Department that this board is committed to getting this project done,” he said at the board’s June 9th meeting, just days after residents rejected the increase to their property taxes associated with Option 1.
“I’m pounding the phones, grabbing every person I can, morning, noon, and night, putting that spreadsheet in front of them. I, honest to God, do not want to spend another $300,000 [ ] on plans,” said Select Board Clerk Joe Previtera, referring to costs of a new design. The Option 1 design is “not over the top” he said, and noted that getting the facts out to residents would be helpful.
Along with Select Board and interested members of the public, others who plan to attend the June 26th community input session are town staff, representatives from Dore + Whittier, and Westwood Fire Chief Lund. Zoom access details have been posted to the Town of Westwood’s website.
Since Town Meeting’s January 2024 vote to fund the design of a new station, significant work has been done to develop detailed plans and secure a firm construction bid. The project received unanimous support from key boards and committees, including the Finance and Warrant Commission, Planning Board, Zoning Board of Appeals, Conservation Commission, and Commission on Disability.
Thanks to Molly Fitzpatrick, Deputy Town Administrator, and the Town of Westwood for sharing information for this Westwood Minute article.
Updated 6/25/2025 at 9:59 p.m. A parenthetical, which incorrectly described Option 2 as the Town Hall site, has been corrected to describe Option 2 as the landlocked site: “In comparing Option 1 (recently met by a mixed reception by voters) with Option 2 (relocation of the fire station to a land-locked area behind Starbucks on High Street). . .”
The Secret Cost of Excess:—13 Bathrooms, 8 Offices, 36,000 Sq Ft for 7 Staff Per Shift and 5 Admin in Westwood’s Proposed Fire Station
The point of a listening session should be to listen to why residents don't want to spend $38 million on a fire station, not re-present the same option and another, more expensive one. It is possible that a future vote in the Fall, with greater participation by residents, could result in a different outcome, but at this stage, I think it is premature to tell residents there are only 2 paths forward. Most residents are likely very supportive of the fire department, and regret the outcome after so much time and energy was spent by the town to come up with the proposal, but they are concerned about their finances, knowing that this is only the first override, which will likely be followed in the coming years by a much larger request from the schools. With the overall uncertainty of the economy, terrible job market, etc., many people likely feel overwhelmed by this impending series of tax hikes and would like to see what can be done within a given budget, not re-sold on something.
I also believe the timing of the election played a role in low turnout. The town meeting was held off-cycle; not the first Monday of May, then followed by an election just before graduation and the beginning of summer. In contrast to the recent successful override for the Pine Hill School, there was nowhere near the energy and widespread community involvement that led up to that special, single-purpose fall town meeting vote and election. I think it may be possible to re-vote, even on option 1, and achieve support in November, but the process really needs to begin by abandoning the assumption that voters need to be told more or presented with worse options so they will go back and change their minds on the message they clearly sent which is, we are not ready to spend $38 million at this time.
Thanks, Dave and Ada for the comments. Sending around a reminder of community conduct guidelines on this platform as the conversation may continue. Comments addressing the issue are welcome. Please refrain from those that can be taken as personally attacking individuals. Thanks for the participation. https://westwoodminute.town.news/g/westwood-ma/n/214850/westwood-minute…
It's not the size, it's the location stupid. Don't you get?!?
Absurd. Obviously, no one was listening last night. Select Board refuses to downsize it. THAT, is an Option. Keep it in it's current location. That is the most practable. Response time and visibility are crucial.
It's so simple. It's as simple as the architect opening up the designed front elevation view, highlighting a bay, and delete it. Then see what needs to get eliminated or downsized that was associated with that space elsewhere. Adjust floor plans accordingly. Probably take an hours worth of work to get a schematic for a 4 bay (probably already have a 4 bay design). We're no longer working with 'T' squares, triangles, and pencils anymore.
To the Select Board, let's see what happens when the above is performed. Please get us real Options that doesn't in lude putting it behind Starbucks or behind the police station.
Thank you.
Being this was Bid back in April, it's doubtful the apparent winning Contractor will hold their Bid price for ~5 months without some form of compensation. And in order for the Contractor to hold their Bid price, they'll first have to have the Sub-Contractors agree to hold theirs. All of whom would probably not do so without some form of compensation (additional cost) as it will be a gamble for the Contractors to have to wait for another vote in September and hope it does pass.
It is quite the gamble for the tax payers. Because in ~5 months, in this economy, with so much uncertainty regarding tariffs, supply chains, and forthcoming federal cutbacks, it seems difficult that the cost can be held to $38.1M.
Sticking with 'Option 1' is probably not an option based on the above.
Brian, Here is the video of the Select Board meeting on 6/23/25 where it is stated that the contractor and sub-contractors extended the bid pricing to 9/15/25 with no increase. The statement occurs at about the 51 minute mark of the meeting. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTQuZ_M-i3A
The taxpayers have spoken. Waiting until September to vote again is more wasted time. And more wasted cost associated with organizing another vote.
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