N. Y. Regional Plan Consultant Endorses Project
When Dr. Timothy Adams, one of the world’s foremost authorities on regional and town planning, submitted his formal evaluation of the Westover development, it marked a turning point in Norwood’s understanding of what the project could become. Adams — the celebrated London planner responsible for the Regional Plan of New York, one of the most influential planning documents of the 20th century — offered an endorsement that was sweeping, detailed, and unusually enthusiastic.
His report, addressed to George F. Willett of the Westover Corporation, followed a six‑year interval since his previous inspection. In that time, Adams wrote, his conviction had only strengthened: the ownership of 1,000 acres under unified control presented an extraordinary opportunity to create a model residential community — something rarely possible in American development, where fragmented land ownership often leads to haphazard growth.
Adams praised Willett’s vision, noting that the plan balanced practical considerations with high ideals. The protective measures proposed by Westover’s trustees, he argued, would prevent the disorderly, piecemeal development plaguing other Boston‑area suburbs. Instead, Westover could become a demonstration of how to build a community of individual homes set within artistic, natural surroundings.
Regional Significance
Adams emphasized that Westover’s importance extended far beyond Norwood. Properly executed, he wrote, the project could have regional — even national — significance. Its location within the metropolitan region of Boston, combined with its accessibility by rail and its scenic approach through the parkway of Jamaica Bay, made it uniquely positioned to influence broader planning efforts.
He argued that Westover could serve as a living example of:
- how to create economical yet socially desirable homes,
- how to apply modern planning principles,
- how to develop land according to its best economic and social uses, and
- how to educate the public through actual object lessons rather than theory.
A Complete Community
The sheer size of the property — 1,000 acres — made it possible to design a complete community, with:
- unified social life,
- modern solutions to automobile traffic,
- preserved natural beauty,
- parks and parkways under public ownership,
- space for appropriate local industries, and
- regional recreation centered around Willett Pond and Ellis Pond.
Adams was particularly impressed by the rotary traffic system and the wide parkways, which he believed would ensure safety, steady traffic flow, and long‑term beauty. He urged that these parkways be completed to connect with Walpole, Westwood, Medfield, and Dover.
Distinctive Characteristics
Adams listed the estate’s advantages:
- its exceptional size,
- its compactness and accessibility to both Norwood’s business center and Boston,
- its scenic combination of trees, water, and rolling land,
- its on‑site materials suitable for road and building construction,
- its well‑situated parks and parkways, and
- its suitability for a wide variety of residential and recreational uses.
Benefits to Norwood
Adams concluded unequivocally that Norwood would benefit through:
- improved tax rates,
- increased employment, and
- expanded local business.
He highlighted four essential considerations Willett had already embraced:
A. High architectural standards B. Compact, well‑planned business centers C. Completion of major parkways D. Full development of recreational features, especially the ponds
His final judgment was clear: Westover, if developed according to Willett’s principles, would be a sound investment and a major contribution to American planning.
Norwood Messenger
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