Responding to pressing production demands, Polaroid Corporation announced plans to construct a massive film processing complex on the Forbes Estate near the Westwood line, contingent upon a crucial zoning change from residential use. During a meeting with Norwood town officials and financial executives last night, company representatives William L. LeBoeuf and Joseph W. Gibson detailed a potential $9 million investment projected to unfold over a 10-year period.
The long-range development calls for a campus of at least nine buildings—each valued at a minimum of $1 million—ultimately employing approximately 4,000 people. To meet urgent manufacturing timelines, LeBoeuf stated that the company must proceed without delay, targeting construction to begin on the first building by November with completion expected by next July. A special town meeting is anticipated to be called prior to October 1 to vote on the required rezoning.
Property Scope and Tax Impact
The project encompasses a total of 204 acres, with 30 acres located across the municipal boundary in Westwood. Gibson, Polaroid’s real estate division manager, clarified that current plans exclude any physical building construction within Westwood proper, though recreational facilities for the complex may eventually be situated there.
Local officials noted the substantial economic impact the development would bring to the town. At Norwood’s then-current tax rate and assessment levels, a single $1 million building was estimated to yield $36,000 in annual tax revenue—representing an increase of more than 50 cents on the local tax rate.
Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger
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Norwood Plastics Firm Starts Full Operations-This Day In Norwood History-July 21, 1969,
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Polaroid Begins Production At Norwood Complex-July 9, 1969
In 1969, Polaroid began producing goods in their newly constructed facility on the former Forbes Estate in Norwood.
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Polaroid Corporation Conducts Site Studies on 220-Acre Forbes Estate in Norwood and Westwood-August 8, 1967
Partnering with landscape architects Sasaki, Dawson and Demay, the Polaroid Corp. is actively surveying its 220-acre Forbes Estate in Norwood and Westwood to draft revised facility and manufacturing plans.
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Developer Frank R. Simoni Seeks Zoning Change for New Shopping Center Project-August 21, 1963
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Sears, Roebuck to Build Store In Norwood Shopping Center-May 22, 1960
On May 22, 1960, a crowd of civic, business, and government leaders gathered beneath a bright late‑spring sky at the Norwood Shopping Center, where a ceremonial shovel of earth marked the beginning of a major new chapter in local retail life. The groundbreaking celebrated the start of construction on a 31,500‑square‑foot Sears, Roebuck and Co.…
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Community News-September 15, 1955
Miss Dougherty’s dance studio prepares to open on Day Street, Norfolk County Extension sets fall workshops in Walpole, and Local 362 resumes its monthly meetings.
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