Plans Underway by Watertown Landscape Architects Sasaki, Dawson and Demay for Revised Manufacturing and Administration Complex
The Polaroid Corp. is currently conducting an extensive site development study of the 220-acre Forbes Estate it owns across Norwood and Westwood near Route 1A, a company spokesman announced yesterday. Launched in July, the survey is being spearheaded by corporate engineers alongside the nationally renowned Watertown landscape architectural firm Sasaki, Dawson and Demay Assoc. Polaroid officials are awaiting the architects’ final recommendations before determining the exact type, size, and function of the future facilities. The prestigious design firm boasts an impressive portfolio, having previously planned Polaroid’s Waltham plant, landscaping proposals for Copley Square in Boston, the Kennedy Cultural Center in Washington, D.C., and the master plan for the University of Colorado.
While Polaroid originally outlined a 10-year project to construct nine film processing buildings in Norwood totaling $9 million and creating 4,000 new jobs, courtroom delays prompted the corporation to build three of those structures in Waltham instead. Consequently, master plans are currently being revised, though corporate spokesmen emphasized that the final number of buildings remains open and construction on the first phase is expected to begin within one to two years. Crucially, the historic mansion belonging to the estate—former home of W. Cameron Forbes, one-time U.S. Ambassador to Japan—will be preserved rather than demolished, with company officials considering it for use as an administrative office or employee recreation center. Furthermore, Polaroid pledged that once finalized, development plans will be shared with local abutters to gather landscaping and hedging suggestions. Legal hurdles had previously delayed the project in 1965 when neighborhood abutters challenged a municipal rezoning decision up to the state Supreme Court, though tensions eased following a recent progress report dinner hosted by Polaroid for town officials at the estate.
Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger
More Norwood Business History
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South End Hardware: A Landmark Institution-July 5, 1978
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Swampland Transformed Into Norwood Country Club Golf Course-August 29, 1975
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Fate of South Norwood’s Dealers’ Cafe Rests on Upcoming Hearing-August 21, 1975
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Norwood Entrepreneurs Launch Innovative Video Home Inventory Service to Ease Insurance Claims-August 20, 1975
Utilizing cutting-edge audio-video technology, Norwood’s Michael Cardaci Jr. and Christopher McKinnon founded Panvidicon Video Assurance Co. to catalog home possessions for insurance claims.
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Norwood Selectmen Fight State Over Iron Horse Outdoor Liquor License-August 21, 1974
Norwood selectmen resist a state ABCC mandate to grant an outdoor liquor license to the Iron Horse’s Mida Piazza Garden.
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Norwood Selectmen Mandate Uniform Meter Rates for Local Taxi Companies-August 8, 1973
Ending a two-month debate, Norwood selectmen voted to establish uniform meter rates for Bob’s Taxi Co. and Norwood Taxi Co., setting fares at 60 cents for the first sixth-mile and 10 cents thereafter.
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Seeds Of Vast Industrial Development Planted-July 10, 1973
On July 10, 1973, the industrial committee in Norwood underwent a significant reorganization, appointing local developer Robert L. Rizzo as chairman and establishing a five-member steering committee to promote business and industry within the town. ⠀ The committee’s primary focus was to advance a plan for “garden-type industrial development” on a large parcel of land…
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