MassDevelopment intends to publish in December a Request for Proposals (RFP) for redevelopment of Vicksburg Square and is asking stakeholder communities for input. A study group consisting of Harvard selectmen Ron Ricci and Peter Warren, Ayer selectman Gary Luca, and Harvard Planning Board Chairman Joe Sudol met recently with Edmund Starzec of MassDevelopment to discuss concepts that could be included in the RFP. As Ricci reported to last week’s Board of Selectmen meeting, MassDevelopment is seeking as much input as possible to ensure support for whatever redevelopment proposals are received.
According to Ricci, one factor that MassDevelopment considers important is that the housing component (estimated at 300 to 500 units) is over and above the 292 already authorized by the Devens Reuse Plan and Chapter 498, the legislation which controls Devens redevelopment. Together with likely zoning and boundary changes (Vicksburg Square is not currently zoned for housing, and straddles historical boundaries of Ayer and Harvard), these changes would require town meeting approval by Ayer, Harvard, and Shirley prior to enabling legislation.
Ricci and Warren reported that the group would meet again Dec. 2 at 8:15 a.m. at Devens to finalize input to the RFP. That meeting will include a walkthrough of Vicksburg Square. Warren said the meeting is open to anyone who would like to attend; Ricci encouraged anyone with comments to contact him, and said he would make sure they were included.
Selectwoman Lucy Wallace suggested that “mixed use” (e.g., residences and shops) be encouraged. Chairman Leo Blair asked that the current draft of the RFP be posted on the town website, for anyone who would like to review it. Warren said that he expects MassDevelopment to make another round of changes, but to give the study group another pass at a revised version before it is released.
