Planning Board Considers Windsor Gardens Expansion-October 13, 1966

Town planning officials are currently reviewing a major expansion proposal by Windsor Gardens, which seeks to construct 239 two- and three-bedroom apartments and townhouses across approximately 14 acres of land adjacent to its existing complex on Walpole Street.

Windsor Gardens Expansion and Three-Bedroom Demand

During a public hearing on Monday regarding the proposed rezoning of the land from manufacturing to apartment use, Murray Wallace of Windsor Gardens explained that the addition of three-bedroom units was driven specifically by the needs of elderly residents who possess substantial furnishings and require adequate space to host visiting relatives.

The existing 682-unit complex of one- and two-bedroom apartments has historically earned praise from town officials for restricting the concentration of school-age children in the development. However, once the adjacent parcel is officially rezoned for apartment use, town planners acknowledge they will have limited regulatory control over family sizes within the new units.

Opposition at the hearing was minimal, with only two residents—both current Windsor Gardens tenants—protesting that the new construction would obstruct their wooded views. The planning board is scheduled to issue its official recommendations on the zoning change on October 24, ahead of a vote on one of 19 articles slated for the October 27 town meeting warrant.

Washington Street Commercial and Residential Rezoning

Also on the planning board’s docket for October 24 is a joint session with the industrial commission and municipal officials to evaluate a proposal to rezone the business district along Washington Street—specifically the corridor between Railroad Avenue and the Walpole town line—to permit mixed business and apartment use.

Proponents argue the change would inject economic vitality into the business district. However, discussions will focus heavily on parking capacities, setback requirements, height restrictions, and mitigating existing traffic congestion. Currently, Norwood enforces a 60-foot building height limit while restricting residential apartments to two stories and a basement level. Selectman John Abdallah urged caution, suggesting the town should await a concrete private development proposal before altering zoning rules.

American Steel and Aluminum Corp. to Build Facility on American Drive

In major industrial news, American Steel and Aluminum Corp. announced plans to construct a major new metal distribution facility on American Drive.

Company President Olaf Halvorsen stated that the new building will be erected within the six-acre industrial park developed by Glacier Sand and Stone Co. of Norwood. Serving as a regional dispensing hub for stainless steel, aluminum, and other structural metals, the facility represents a major expansion from the firm’s current operations in Cambridge.

The corporation also operates service centers in Auburn; Cumberland, Rhode Island; Portland, Maine; Hartford, Connecticut; and Albany, New York. Halvorsen specifically praised Norwood’s General Committee on Industrial Development for its aggressive cooperation in bringing the corporate investment to town. R.M. Bradley and Co., Inc., represented by broker Fred F. Stockwell, brokered the land agreement.

Local Democratic Committee Launches Fall Fundraiser

In political developments, the Norwood Democratic Town Committee has launched a grassroots fundraising campaign to support local candidates running for the House and Senate, as well as the broader state Democratic ticket.

Frank Sheehan, chairman of the Democratic Finance Committee, is directing a 15-member committee distributing aerosol cans of windshield de-icer and window cleaner in exchange for donations of a dollar or more. Committee Chairman John Sherry noted that the winter preparation products provide a practical fundraising avenue while boosting local support heading into the election cycle.

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