Attorneys Seek Guidance on Norwood’s First Major Apartment-to-Condominium Conversion-August 30, 1972

Representing the ownership of Nassau Gardens Inc. and Eaton Village Development Corp.—firms backed by Dedham developer Peter Kanavos—Boston attorney Daniel Needham appeared before the Zoning Board of Appeals last night to seek preliminary advice on converting the 300-apartment complexes into Norwood’s first residential condominiums.

With no existing municipal zoning bylaws explicitly governing condominium conversions, Needham emphasized that the developers were eager to proceed in an orderly fashion. Board Chairman George M. Eysie acknowledged the novelty of the proposal, noting, “We know the concept of condominiums, but nothing like this has ever come before us. We haven’t decided yet which bylaw it might fall under, so we don’t really know whether you should come in for a permit.” Board member George S. Williamson added that the panel could take no formal stance until a concrete application was filed. Following the session, the attorneys agreed to consult Town Counsel Justin C. Barton before returning to the board.

Conversion Plans and Tenant Impact

Scheduled to begin tentatively this fall and proceed section by section, the conversion will not alter the physical structures themselves. As Needham explained, “All it really involves is a change in the method of ownership.” Units will be offered for purchase rather than rent, with resident associations taking over building maintenance.

While curious neighbors pressed the board for reactions during the meeting, officials declined to comment. Needham noted that existing tenants will be permitted to remain in their apartments until their current leases expire, after which units will no longer be available on a rental basis. Developers declined to disclose prospective unit prices.

Board Declines Action on Hampden-Plymouth Apartments

In other zoning actions, the board declined to discuss an appeal by New York builders Robert Greene, Benjamin Koehl, and David Harris regarding a proposed 224-unit apartment complex at Hampden and Plymouth Drives. Superior Court Judge Vincent R. Brogna recently issued a preliminary ruling against the board’s prior denial of permits.

Because the litigation effectively added 27 months to the project’s statutory timeline—shielding it from subsequent rezoning—the developers also reapplied to Building Inspector John E. Grover on June 30 as a protective measure, which Grover denied. Williamson stated that until a final court decree is handed down, “the board’s hands are pretty well tied as far as granting permits is concerned.” Meanwhile, Appeals Chairman Eysie secured board backing to potentially carry the case to the state Supreme Judicial Court if necessary.

Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger