Although Trinity Financial’s presentation last week to Harvard’s Historical Commission emphasized the historic aspects of the company’s Vicksburg Square redevelopment proposal, the commissioners were at least as concerned about the future day-to-day quality of life at the project as in preserving the past of the Georgian Revival buildings.
Trinity’s proposal would create 246 rental units of housing in Hale, Allen, Knox, and Revere Halls, the four large, former military buildings that surround a central quadrangle in Devens. The complex was constructed between 1929 and 1940 and used as barracks, offices, and a training center.
Eighty percent of the complex would be low income-eligible housing for individuals and families making 60 percent or less of the region’s median income—currently a $58,680 annual income cap for a family of four, according to Trinity’s Vickburgsquare.com website—with a preference for military veterans. Ten percent of the total units would be reserved for very-low income residents making less than thirty percent of the median income.
All of Hale Hall, 78 independent-living apartments, would be designated for those 55 and older. Elevators would be added only to Hale Hall.
In order for Trinity to move forward with its plan, state law requires that town meetings in the three towns whose land Devens straddles—Harvard, Shirley, and Ayer—must simultaneously approve changes to the Devens reuse plan and bylaws. The “super town meeting” is tentatively scheduled for March 28.
Trinity project manager Dan Drazen showed the commission old photographs of the three-story buildings, along with architectural drawings of the finished project. Trinity would renovate the building exteriors in keeping with their original appearance, while reconfiguring the interior space into one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments. Historical restoration would include returning the many enclosed porches to their open state; new roofs, gutters, and downspouts; repointing bricks; and restoring or replacing entry doors and frames.
In Trinity’s plan, the vast paved quadrangle would be replaced with access drives and parking spaces around two green open spaces.
Commissioners peppered Drazen with questions, few of which concerned preserving the historic aspects of the depression-era buildings.
Historical commissioner Doug Coots, an architect who had earlier praised Trinity’s Maverick Square development in East Boston for its “human scale,” asked if Trinity had considered adding buildings or other changes to the quadrangle.
“There’s a lot of space between neighbors,” he asked. “How do you create community that actually has legs? Lots of space makes sense as a military base, but not as a community.”
“It seems a little lonely, especially if you don’t have a lot of means,” said commissioner Rhonda Sprague, a local Realtor.
“In this day and age, most places like this for seniors have large community centers,” said commissioner Barbara Hadad.
Other concerns centered on transportation. Would public transportation be available for people without cars? Were the parking spaces adequate and convenient?
“Say I’m a pregnant woman with a 3 year-old, just back from getting groceries,” said Sprague, addressing the parking concentrated behind Hale Hall and far away from the west end of the quadrangle.
Drazen responded that the parking was expected to be adequate, assuming that many of the senior units would only need one space. He said there was the possibility that MassDevelopment, the agency in charge of managing and developing Devens, would extend its shuttle service to include Vicksburg Square.
In addition to the four main buildings, Trinity has plans to recondition the exterior of the former theater next to Hale Hall for use by Fort Devens Museum, which is now housed at 94 Jackson Road. Trinity would renovate the theater’s exterior, before turning the shell over to the museum, which would be responsible for creating the inside exhibition space, Drazen said.
“Fort Devens Museum has very little visibility now. There’s a story to be told. Increased visibility will make it more of a destination,” he said.
Although the Fort Devens Museum Board recently endorsed the idea, Historical Commission members thought the adjacent residents would visit it once and then seldom. They suggested that Trinity consider other possibilities. Sprague liked the idea of keeping it a theater.
Financing for the project would come from the historic rehabilitation and low income housing tax credits, Dranzen said.
“What percent of financing is dependent on getting historic tax credits and what happens if you don’t get it?” asked Harvard resident Lucy Wallace, who has recently announced her intention to run for an open Board of Selectmen seat.
Drazen said the firm was not worried about getting the tax credits because of its experience with its other development projects.
The four former housing and office buildings, the theater, and a fire station on the 20-acre site are all listed on the National Registry of Historic Places. According to long-time historic commissioner John Martin, exterior changes to the buildings requires Certificates of Approval from the Massachusetts Historical Commissioner, but that Ayer and Harvard Historical Commissions would likely have the opportunity to offer comments.
