Thorndike Development, developers of 1021 Kingston’s
Place, has placed under contract a ten acre parcel of land
which abuts Kingston's Place and has frontage on both Raboth Road and
Smelt Pond (see map image), referred to as the "Pond Properties
Parcel". Like the Davis property to the northwest of Kingston's
Place, which has been under agreement for some time and on which the
leaching fields for Kingston's Place will be placed, the Pond Properties
Parcel is not part of the 40R zoning district itself. However, this
property could play a vital role in Thorndike Development's overall
Smart Growth development strategy.
1021 Kingston’s Place is planned as an innovative Smart Growth
community, which will include homes, office space, neighborhood retail
and upgrades to water, sewer and roads, all constructed in an
environmentally sensitive manner. The project was approved
overwhelmingly by votes at two consecutive town meetings in Kingston
last year, qualifying the Town to receive its first 40R, State-funded
Incentive Payment of $600,000 on October 9, 2007.
According to Thorndike Development President Lloyd Geisinger,
"Over the next six months, Thorndike will be investigating a variety
of potential uses for the Pond Properties Parcel, including using a
portion of the property to help recharge Smelt Brook, an important
environmental commitment that we have made to the Town, and providing
improved public access to Smelt Pond, including the construction of a
new public dock for boating and/or swimming by Town residents."
Thorndike is also proposing to construct 42 apartments on the
Pond Properties Parcel. Because this property is not part of the 40R
zoning district, Thorndike will pursue the permitting of these
apartments under the state's Comprehensive Permit process, often
referred to as 40B, which would be a separate development from
Kingston's Place. Thorndike has committed to build the Pond Properties
development in accordance with the Design Standards adopted for
Kingston's Place to ensure both the quality of the development and its
compatibility with Kingston's Place.
Why is Thorndike expanding its development plans for Kingston?
The answer is twofold. First, these are difficult economic times,
particularly for the real estate industry. This, coupled with the
financial costs and delays associated with battling what Thorndike
believes to be frivolous lawsuits challenging the 40R zoning adopted
by the residents of Kingston, has financial implications for
Kingston's Place. The addition of the Pond Properties Parcel and the
homes that Thorndike will build there will make the overall
development plans for Kingston a stronger, more financially sound
proposal. Second, these same negative factors have caused, and
continue to cause, delays in starting work on Kingston's Place.
"At our core, we are builders, and as such we are anxious to
move forward and start building the quality community that has been
promised to the people of Kingston," said Geisinger. Through the
comprehensive permitting process, Thorndike hopes to accelerate
bringing quality Thorndike homes to Kingston and begin to fulfill its
commitment to meet the Town's affordable housing obligations within
walking distance of the train station, which will eliminate the need
for the Town to approve 40B projects elsewhere in Kingston, regardless
of the length of any continuing delays due to 40R zoning appeals.
"Please know that we remain committed to building an environmentally
sensitive smart growth community here in Kingston of which we all can
be proud," said Geisinger in an e-newsletter to Kingston residents.
"The new opportunities created by the Pond Properties Parcel only
further ensure the viability and long-term success of Kingston's
Place. Over the coming months, as we work through our due diligence
process on the Pond Properties Parcel, and as our plans come more into
focus, we will keep the residents of Kingston up to date every step of
the way."
