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Community Benefits
Town Center Economic Development
Retail destinations: Up to 3 new eateries or shops will reinforce Shrewsbury Town Center as a destination by clustering with already existing businesses. Likely tenants include a restaurant, coffee shop, specialty market or boutique.
New retail jobs will be created by these new businesses.
Residents of the 55 one- and two-bedroom apartments will add foot traffic for existing Town Center businesses, supporting jobs.
Public Amenities
Outdoor seating at eateries and along frontage will invite people to linger and enjoy themselves in a live-work-play environment.
Streetscape improvements will create a more comfortable and beautiful environment for people to walk and enjoy themselves.
Public parking will be provided in the large shared rear lot and along Hascall Street, allowing access to Beal Commons and other Town Center destinations.
Increasing Housing Options
55 one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments will provide needed housing for smaller households including younger working people and older adults who tend to have fewer children.
Affordable housing: 7 out of 55 units (12.5%) will be affordable for lower-income households earning 80% or less of the area median income (AMI).
Town Center location provides additional choices for residents who value walkability to destinations.
Sustainability
Energy efficiency and environmental design: Civico is committed to constructing high-quality, energy efficient buildings and will incorporate on-site renewable energy to the extent feasible.
Reducing transportation emissions: By promoting a walk-friendly Town Center we reduce the number of car trips that need to be made.
Maximizing open space: By limiting parking pavement to what is strictly necessary, we retain open space for plantings, outdoor seating and gardens.
Fiscal Impacts
Converts Vacant 3-acre Property to Tax-Paying use: The former Beal School is currently empty and is a liability for the Town. Beal Commons would boost tax revenues while requiring little in new public services.
Supports Commercial Tax Base: New residents within walking distance will help support and maintain a thriving Town Center.
Other Taxes and Fees generated by the project aside from property tax payments include meals tax, vehicle excise tax, supplemental real estate tax, and one-time permitting fees.
Alignment with Local Plans
“Promote the Town Center as a pedestrian-friendly shopping and service area and a neighborhood gathering place.”
The Town of Shrewsbury has undergone the following series of planning exercises in the past several years to reinvigorate the Town Center and repurpose the former Beal School property:
2016: The Shrewsbury Master Plan update includes a goal of making the Town Center a “pedestrian-friendly shopping and service area and gathering place.”
2018: Town Center Parking Study identifies the need for more accessible public parking through consolidation of existing lots, shared parking agreements, and better signage.
2019: Town Center Study recommends issuing a request for proposals for redevelopment of the former Beal School and also recommends changes to the Zoning Bylaw to allow more flexible development regulations to encourage investment.
2020: Town Center zoning district reforms are enacted including detailed design standards and more flexible regulations. The goal was to encourage traditional New England-style town center development.
2021: Request for Proposals is issued for the former Beal School. Civico-Greenly were selected to negotiate a land disposition agreement.
Project Plans
Submission Set for Planning Board Application* (November 2022)
Cover Letter (PDF)
Engineering Site Plans (PDF)
Landscape Planting Plan (PDF)
* Click here to view the Town’s webpage for a complete listing of documents and files related to the project.