Building Permits Double Over Previous Year as Construction Rebounds from 1966 Low-August 14, 1967

Construction activity in Norwood is experiencing a strong rebound following an eight-year low recorded the previous year. Building Inspector Henry J. Cronan reported that the declared value of 119 building permits issued during the first six months of 1967 reached $2.25 million—nearly double the $1.24 million recorded across 101 permits during the same period in 1966, and closely approaching the total value of all permits issued throughout the entirety of the prior year.

While the surge is largely propelled by a single $1.25 million permit taken out by the Star Market Co. for a new warehouse, the upward trajectory persisted through July, which saw 30 permits valued at $373,354 compared to just 19 permits worth $85,300 in July 1966. Cronan attributed the prior year’s slump to tight credit conditions, noting that mortgage financing is now readily accessible. Major upcoming projects anticipated by town officials include the Eaton Village apartments, the Windsor Gardens apartments, Polaroid Corp. facilities, Herb Anderson Motors, and Stop and Shop Co.

The July permit ledger was highlighted by a $225,000 permit for the new MacMoran Chevrolet showroom along Route 1, a 29,161-square-foot steel and concrete block structure. Overall 1967 figures through mid-year include 21 new homes valued at $375,500, 66 home additions and alterations totaling $100,677, 11 swimming pools ($28,292), five commercial additions ($330,300), an apartment building ($100,000), a municipal cemetery garage ($41,890), an elevator ($20,000), and 12 signs ($4,976).

Municipal Meetings Focus on Water Diversion and Land Lease

In local government news, selectmen and the planning board scheduled a joint town hall meeting with representatives of the Neponset Reservoir Corp. to review plans for diverting water from Hawes Brook to a Walpole industrial reservoir via pipeline. Additionally, the boards planned to meet with delegates from the American Steel and Aluminum Co. to discuss a proposed lease of town-owned land.

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