Worcester Business Journal

8 Worcester Business Journal | April 1, 2019 | wbjournal.com Devens seeks more housing Former military facilities in need of $120M+ offer chance for community with few residents BY GRANT WELKER Worcester Business Journal News Editor I n the two decades since the clo- sure of its longtime military base, Devens has rebounded with thou- sands of new jobs from dozens of employers like the pharmaceutical company Bristol-Myers Squibb or con- sumer distributor Quiet Logistics. Yet, the community still lacks for res- idents, with less than 2,000 living there, according to the U.S. Census. A cluster of brick buildings dating to before World War II – which have stood empty since Devens's military days – could help change that. Rezoning efforts to allow for residential use have stalled before, but now the MassDevelopment, the state agency controlling Devens, is seeking approval from residents in the three towns who make up the former base – Ayer, Harvard and Shirley – to allow for up to 300 housing units. Vicksburg Square remains as perhaps the most visible sign in Devens of the site's military history. A series of buildings kept behind fencing and security checkpoints remain in use by the U.S. Army, but Vicksburg Square stands in front of Rogers Field, a former parade ground and a centerpiece of Devens where sports events are held, making it a reminder Devens hasn't entirely recov- ered from the base's closure in 1996. Jessica Strunkin, MassDevelopment's top official in Devens as its vice president for the community, said the goal is to be able to preserve Vicksburg Square for its aesthetic appeal and historical roots. "It's the quintessential image, the centerpiece of this community," Strunkin said. Vicksburg Square includes more than 400,000 square feet in four buildings that once housed more than a thou- sand soldiers. ree of those buildings – all but Revere Hall, the one stretching along Buena Vista Street in front of Rogers Field – have been empty since the 1990s, when Devens was still a mili- tary base. Revere Hall has been empty since MassDevel- opment moved its offices out 15 years ago. MassDevelop- ment officials see an opportunity now to both save the visual heart of Devens and add housing to what's still a communi- ty dominated by commercial and industrial uses. "It's been a challenge to redevelop because of its size and the cost it's going to take to fix it," said Ed Starzec, MassDevelopment's project manager for Vicksburg Square. Empty buildings and failed votes e large brick Georgian Revival buildings in Vicksburg Square are stately but have seen better days. Vandals have taken out most of the buildings' original copper piping, and little to no maintenance has been done since the buildings were vacated. Heating, ventilation and utilities have been shut off. Many windows have been broken, and much of the buildings' roofs and facades have crumbled. Inside, lead paint, asbestos and mold require major remediation work. Break-ins were so common Mass- Development fenced off the four main buildings, boarded up all first-floor windows and doors, and installed mo- tion-sensitive video cameras monitored around the clock. e buildings remain safe structurally, but with rust starting to wear away at the building's concrete and steel support frame, MassDevelopment is starting to watch more carefully. A 2012 estimate put renovation costs at $120 million, but a more updated projection hasn't been undertaken. e project would require some mix of his- toric and low-income housing tax credits to be financially feasible. Jessica Strunkin, MassDevelopment vice president for Devens Vicksburg Square is a central part of Devens' history but has sat empty for years.

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