Housing Authority Unveils $2.6 Million Plan for 83 Elderly Housing Units at Old Shattuck School Site-October 21, 1983

Combining Historic Renovation and New Construction at Nahatan and Fulton Streets

The Norwood Housing Authority is advancing an ambitious $2.6 million state-funded proposal to transform the vacant Shattuck School property into a major elderly housing development. Under preliminary architectural sketches prepared by Charles F. Jacobs of Cambridge and presented to the authority last night, the 3.5-acre site at Nahatan and Fulton streets would house a total of 83 residential units:

• Shattuck School Renovation: The historic two-story school building would be converted into 19 one-bedroom apartments for the elderly—featuring nine on the first floor and ten on the second floor.
• New Construction: An additional 64 new units—including eight designated specifically for handicapped residents—would be constructed across four separate 16-unit structures scattered around the existing school grounds.
• Basement Community Center: The school’s basement would be entirely renovated into a dedicated community services and function room available for local elderly groups. Housing Authority Chairman John C. Adelmann noted that this design provides three times more “nondwelling” space than state guidelines typically allow, justified because recycling an old building lowers construction costs and serves the broader community.

Unique architectural features of the school conversion include a rooftop skylight paired with an open shaft leading down to a large enclosed basement terrarium. Because the apartments span only two floors, no elevator is required, relying instead on a separate buzzer-secured entrance for the basement community hall. Additionally, architect Jacobs recommended exploring federal grants to incorporate solar energy equipment for domestic hot water heating across the new units.

Overcoming Past Hurdles and Next Steps for Town Meeting

The project comes on the heels of a failed prior attempt by the housing authority to construct 104 units at Nahatan Village, which stalled after a Superior Court judge annulled zoning variances granted by the Board of Appeals. Determined to make the Shattuck site a success, Adelmann stated, “We’d like the Shattuck School site to become the showplace of Norfolk County.”

Before moving forward to a special town meeting—tentatively eyed for December if called—the authority planned extensive outreach. “We want to be sure to give them every consideration before going to town meeting,” Adelmann emphasized, noting that the board needed to consult closely with neighborhood abutters.

Following formal written approval from Stephen Demos, chief architect for the state Department of Community Affairs (DCA)—which allocated $2.6 million for the project—the architect will build a scale model for public review. If finalized, the plan will require town meeting approval to authorize the transfer or sale of the property to the housing authority and rezone the site from a general residence zone to permit multi-family dwellings.

Cost estimates for the development place the new units at roughly $25,000 each and the renovated school apartments at about $18,000 each, totaling approximately $2 million, well within the DCA’s $2.6 million allocation which also accounts for land acquisition costs. Four years prior, when the school was last operational, the building was assessed at $191,000 and the land at $33,000.

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