Posted onAugust 10, 2025|Comments Off on Norfolk Hunt Club PACE today at MSH
1922 NHC map – I was interested to see the “Poor Farm” and “Death’s Bridge” – latter apparently was the family’s name.
There are lots and lots of horses at the former Medfield State Hospital today as the Norfolk Hunt Club is running what I learned is called a Pace. I saw that the riders start at intervals and I was told they try to ride the many mile course through Medfield, Dover and Sherborn at the “right pace,” alternately walking, cantering, and galloping depending on the trail conditions. I understood that the target pace may even vary depending upon the level of expertise of the riders.
I was struck by the vast variety of horses – strikingly different markings, colors, and most surprising to me sizes.
This is one of my historic photos of the NHC’s drag hunt at Thanksgiving – today no one is dressed up in that finery and there are way, way more horses.
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The spectacular fringe tree that sits atop the front Great Lawn at the former Medfield State Hospital site was blooming last weekend when I went by, but this year it is not as full of blooms and as robust looking as it has been in the past.
Monday at the annual town meeting (ATM) Steve Dragotakes asked about what town owned land was currently for sale, and Select Board chair Murby mentioned the land at the former Medfield State Hospital site known as Parcel B which is South of Hospital Road where a basketball facility was recently proposed – shown as The South Field on the above plan.
For me the primary town property I would like to see monetized first is not that Parcel B which are beautiful open fields and woods, but rather the land that the Medfield State Hospital Master Planning Committee called The Arboretum. The Arboretum is about 12 acres that contains the former employee homes around the Stonegate entrance (the entrance nearest the downtown).
I suggest the town should first seek to sell The Arboretum after the Trinity Financial project is built, as then The Arboretum land will substantially increase in value. In the interim, I would suggest that the town change the zoning on that land from the sparse density the Medfield State Hospital Master Planning Committee placed on it, so as to permit more dense development and add more to its sale value.
We all want to preserve open space, but to me the open space I treasure at the former Medfield State Hospital site are the fields surrounding the already built areas, and I am not bothered by building greater density in the already built areas.
I see Old Village Square off of RTE 27 as a model for the density and curb appeal of what could go in The Arboretum. Old Village Square nets the town a large net profit of real estate taxes over municipal costs each year – maybe $600,000/year. The Arboretum developed in a similar manner could add maybe $1,000,000/year to our tax base without much town cost. My path to lowering our high residential real estate taxes is more via building housing that has minimal municipal costs, instead of looking to more business, commercial or industrial development – which few developers seem to want to locate in Medfield.
Posted onMarch 15, 2025|Comments Off on New Life & Soles 5K – 4/27
New Life Furniture Bank of MA and Soles of Medfield
Announce 5K/10K Run and Fun Run
Medfield, MA – March 17, 2025 – New Life Furniture Bank of MA, in partnership with the running club Soles of Medfield, is proud to announce the second annual New Life 5K/10K Run and Fun Run, taking place on Sunday, April 27, 2025, at McCarthy Park & Fields (44 Hospital Hill Road). This community-driven event welcomes participants of all abilities—from competitive runners to casual walkers, as well as those with dogs or strollers—for a day of fitness, philanthropy, fun.
The event will begin at 9:00 AM with a Fun Run, providing an excellent opportunity for younger participants and families to get involved. At 9:30 AM, the 5K and 10K races will commence, offering a challenge for seasoned runners, while also accommodating those who prefer a more relaxed pace. Official timed results will be provided by Second Wind.
This event offers an opportunity to not only challenge oneself physically but also to support an important cause. Proceeds will directly benefit New Life Furniture Bank of MA, helping provide essential furniture and household items to individuals and families transitioning out of homelessness. Additionally, 10% of funds raised will support the Soles of Medfield Scholarship Fund, reinforcing the event’s broader mission of community enrichment.
“Every step taken on race day contributes to the journey of a family transitioning out of homelessness,” said Andy Crossley, Executive Director of New Life Furniture Bank. “Whether participants are running, walking, or cheering from the sidelines, this event fosters a sense of unity and purpose.”
New Life Furniture Bank of MA is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping individuals and families in need by providing essential furniture and household items at no cost through a network of referring agencies. The organization envisions a future where no one is forced to live, eat, or sleep on the floor. Through the generosity of donors and volunteers, New Life transforms empty spaces into homes, restoring dignity and comfort to those in transition. To support, donate, or volunteer with New Life Furniture Bank, please visit newlifefb.org.
Soles of Medfield is an inclusive community group of runners of all distances and all paces. Learn more at www.solesofmedfield.run
Last night ONYX Partners Ltd. (Anton Melchionda of Dover) presented the following proposal to a joint meeting of the Select Board, Warrant Committee, and Medfield Park & Recreation Commission.
Points from my notes:
ONYX’s entity as the developer would be a for profit real estate entity owning the land and the 80,000 sq. ft., 8 court basketball facility.
Medfield Park & Recreation Commission gets a 20,000 sq. ft. facility.
ONYX would still go ahead if the # of courts were reduced to as few as four.
ONYX’s prime tenant (30-40%) would be the non-profit BB program for kids K-12 Anton runs.
ONYX would pay property taxes.
Structures could be moved around on the site.
Bellforge Arts Center stated it is also interested in acquiring the use of the same 12 acres for purposes related to its cultural arts center.
My initial thoughts:
The town needs to know the financial details, but those are only likely to come much later, after the annual town meeting (ATM) and responses to a town request for proposals (RFP).
The large amount of traffic generated would severely impact residents.
I would place any structures next to the RR tracks, as far as possible from Hospital Road, so they are as hidden as much as possible from Hospital Road by the elevation change, in order to protect the view scape from the top of the hill as much as possible.
If an RFP is put out, it should be for any and all uses, so the town can evaluate all possible options for this precious town asset, including one from the Bellforge Arts Center.
Finally, as an alternative, I encourage Medfield Park & Recreation Commission to consider doing its own building, on the basis that the town borrows the money for MPRC’s building and MPRC commits to paying the debt service on that building out of the fees MPRC charges for programs they run out of the building. A former director of MPRC opined that the program revenues could financially pay the debt service.
Posted onFebruary 25, 2025|Comments Off on Basketball Facility at MSH Site – presentation at 6pm tonight
A large Basketball facility is proposed for town owned land in the area South of Hospital Road at the former Medfield State Hospital, and the proponent will explain his proposal this evening to a joint meeting of the Select Board, Warrant Committee, and Medfield Park & Recreation Commission this evening at 6PM. The Zoom link to that meeting is below.
I suspect the facility is being proposed for the area shown as the South field in the plan below, but note that is not the proponent’s plan. Per the Land Disposition Agreement (LDA) between the state and the town when the town bought the Medfield State Hospital property, the town is permitted to develop only 12 acres of the almost 40 acres South of Hospital Road, because they are prime agricultural soils. The town swapped a restriction on 12 acres of the Holmquist land to be able to use those 12 acres. Per the LDA, the town also has to pay half of whatever it receives for the land to the state.
BELOW IS THE MEETING NOTICE FROM the TOWN WEBSITE:
TOWN OF MEDFIELD MEETING NOTICE Posted in accordance with the provisions of M.G.L. c. 30A, §§18-25 This meeting will be held in a hybrid format. The Select Board will attend in person and members of the public may attend in person. In addition, members of the public who wish to participate via Zoom may do so by joining by one of the following options:
To join through a conference call, dial 929-436-2866 or 312-626-6799 or 253-215-8782 or 301-715-8592 or 346-248-7799 or 669-900-6833 a. Enter the Webinar ID: 885 3036 6678 b. Enter the password: 637025 Select Board Board or Committee PLACE OF MEETING DAY, DATE, AND TIME Chenery Hall, Medfield Town House Remote participation available through Zoom Tuesday, February 25, 2025 at 6:00 pm Agenda (Subject to Change) Call to Order 6:00PM Presentation by Onyx Partners Ltd. regarding their proposal for a portion of the 40 acres of town-owned property located at Map 63, Parcel 004 Hospital Road also known as Parcel B of the former Medfield State Hospital property 6:45PM Questions and Public Comment 7:30PM Adjourn
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The town has been approached by Anton Melchionda of Dover about building a basketball facility on the town owned land at the part of the former Medfield State Hospital site that is South of Hospital Road and to the Northwest of McCarthy Park – at the left side in the aerial view above. He is scheduled to present his proposal at a February 25 Select Board meeting, but I thought people would want to know more about the proposal now where it came up at last night’s Select Board meeting in relationship both to its potential to increase the traffic on Hospital Road and the annual town meeting (ATM) warrant article place holder created for it.
Anton has met with Town Administrator, Kristine Trierweiler and all three Select Board members. I am sharing below my notes of my telephone call with him.
Per the town’s agreement with the state when the town purchased the former MSH property, the town may develop up to 12 acres of its 38 acres of land South of Hospital Road. Plus we have to pay half of any sales price we receive to the state.
My current thoughts:
(1) it would have to be a hugely advantageous project to the town to interest me, as I am currently in no rush to develop the land. I think that land will only gain a lot of value once the Trinity project is built. NB that the town also retains the 12 acre Arboretum parcel at the front of the former MSH site, which could be exceedingly valuable if the town adjusted the zoning;
(2) if the project assisted the Medfield Park & Recreation Commission with their programs, that would be important to me. I am currently unclear how much value the proposal would provide to MPRC, as the details are lacking. I did sense that MPRC would get time to use the facility when the developer’s groups are not using it, but the problem with that is that everyone wants to use the facility at the same time, namely, when the kids are not in school.
(3) any buildings should be in the back field that hugs the railroad tracks (at the bottom left in the aerial view above) so as to be as far from Hospital Road and the view scape from Hospital Road as possible.
(4) nothing should be built on the sledding hill or near Hospital Road.
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Telephone call from Anton Melchionda December 17, 2024 (1:03pm)
Avenue Restaurant partner with childhood friend Josh
Grew up in Amherst
Lived on Tubwreck in Medfield
Works in Needham
Happenstance with MSH due to walking and sledding there
Runs a club program for about 1,000 families around Boston –
One year in to looking to build a facility
Public private partnership for South of Hospital Road
His core business is RE development, office in Needham – Onyx Partners – does a. Retail b. Warehouses and logistics c. Multifamily Housing d. Mainly outside Massachusetts – land too expensive
White Mamba BB a. With Brian Calabrini = former Celtic
Bay State Jaguars = young woman’s program, national, but Massachusetts focus a. Programs are for grades 1-12
Operating both programs are 501c3’s
BB is their focus – kids are multi-sport athletes
Would not compete with Kingsbury Club’s pickleball and tennis
Courts could be available for community uses
Plan to provide outdoor fields
Provide training, athletics, and comfort for people using facility
Would make an 8 figure financial commitment
Medfield Park & Recreation Commission could be part of their project – ? Specifics
Needs to know what they need to present to town
Wants to get decision by annual town meeting (ATM) this year
Have tried elsewhere it sounded like
I cautioned about municipal projects taking longer a. They are self funded, unlike Trinity
Posted onDecember 23, 2024|Comments Off on 3 Harding Street Intersection Options
VHB has provided the town its analysis of the suggested options for the three Harding Street intersections that are to be redone as part of the Medfield State Hospital site redevelopment:
At Hospital Road – 3 options.
At West Street – 2 options.
At North Street – 3 options.
These will be discussed at the Select Board meeting on January 7 and voted on January 21.
My choices are, for the combined reasons of safety and traffic flow:
3 way stop at Harding and Hospital – allows Hospital traffic to turn left in AM.
West Street stop.
Roundabout at North Street – safety and traffic flow justify the added cost.
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Former Town Planner, Sarah Raposa, had put the Medfield State Hospital project in for the Massachusetts Chapter of the American Planning Association’s 2024 Community of the Year Award for our work on the reuse and development of the former Medfield State Hospital site. Town Administrator, Kristine Trierweiler and Sarah traveled to Sturbridge this week to pick up the award.
The Medfield State Hospital and Steve Nolan were both honored a few years ago for the Medfield State Hospital project as well, the posting about which can be found by searching this blog. From memory Steve Nolan was the APA Massachusetts Chapter Volunteer of the Year at that time for his work chairing the Medfield State Hospital reuse committee.
I started this blog to share the interesting and useful information that I saw while doing my job as a Medfield select board member. I thought that my fellow Medfield residents would also find that information interesting and useful as well. This blog is my effort to assist in creating a system to push the information out from the Town House to residents. Let me know if you have any thoughts on how it can be done better.
For information on my other job as an attorney (personal injury, civil litigation, estate planning and administration, and real estate), please feel free to contact me at 617-969-1500 or Osler.Peterson@OslerPeterson.com.
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