Baker-Polito Administration Announces $2.3 Million MassWorks Infrastructure Award in North Andover
Grant will fund road and sewer construction to support redevelopment of Osgood Landing and future Amazon facility
NORTH ANDOVER – Lt. Governor Karyn Polito joined North Andover Town Manager Melissa Rodrigues and other local leaders at town hall to announce a MassWorks Infrastructure Program grant worth $2.3 million for the redevelopment of Osgood Landing in North Andover. The project will fund road and sewer work that will enable the construction of a $200 million Amazon facility.
Sewer construction and street improvements along Route 125 will support redevelopment of the 165-acre Osgood site, a priority development area of the Merrimack Valley Planning Commission’s Regional Land Use Plan. The project will also eliminate the dependence of many area businesses on septic and short-term sewer licenses along the route.
This in turn will unlock a planned $200-million Amazon shipping center, which will include construction of a new 3.8-million square-foot warehouse and distribution facility, demolition of 1.5 million square feet of existing building space, and renovation of 400,000 square feet of existing office space. A 30-acre portion of the site will also be used for a ground-mounted solar energy system. The Amazon development is expected to generate 1,500 permanent full-time jobs and between 200 and 250 construction jobs.
“MassWorks is a valuable program that maximizes return on investment for capital funding, delivering vital infrastructure repairs that improve public safety while stimulating local and private development, job growth and housing production,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “We will continue to collaborate closely with local leaders to identify opportunities and target public resources toward the growth and well being of communities across the Commonwealth.”
“As former municipal leaders, Governor Baker and I know firsthand the value of flexible grant programs like MassWorks, which help communities make targeted enhancements and provide opportunities for economic development,” said Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito. “Today’s award will accelerate plans for Osgood Landing, including new jobs, help existing businesses to grow, and better prepare North Andover for the future.”
“This administration recognizes the importance of reliable, modern infrastructure to the safety and success of communities of all sizes,” said Housing and Economic Development Secretary Mike Kennealy. “We are proud of the improvements to public safety, thousands of new jobs and housing units, and millions of square feet of new commercial space that the MassWorks program has delivered for residents, and we look forward to continuing to leverage every tool at our disposal to ensure all 351 cities and towns in Massachusetts continue to thrive.”
This MassWorks project will advance the goals of North Andover’s Osgood Redevelopment Plan and Sewer Master Plan. Specific project improvements will include 11,000 feet of gravity and force main sewer and 2,300 feet of road widening, bicycle shoulders, and sidewalks. These street improvements will connect seamlessly to an ongoing $2.7 million MassWorks project awarded in 2017, which includes bicycle and pedestrian accommodations to the south of Osgood Landing.
“We are very grateful to the Commonwealth for their support of this project and the infrastructure necessary to make it successful,” said Selectman Chairman Richard Vaillancourt. “Installation of sewer in this area will not only benefit the Amazon/Hillwood project, but is also an important infrastructure upgrade for our community. This project, with its job creation, infrastructure improvements and positive tax impact, is overwhelmingly positive for North Andover.”
“Countless North Andover residents, including children and families, use Route 125 for walking, running and cycling, both for recreation and to report to work at local businesses. I have heard from many residents concerned that future development will, on account of additional traffic, create a hazardous transportation environment. That is why I am so pleased about this MassWorks funding, which will support key infrastructure improvements and promote safe transportation alternatives,” said Senator Diana DiZoglio.
“I’m thrilled to hear that North Andover has been awarded a 2019 MassWorks Infrastructure Program grant. Route 125 serves as a link to our neighboring communities as well as a major bypass in North Andover that allows for reduced congestion in our downtown and residential neighborhoods. Through the Massworks funding, we will be able to encourage further use of the route by pedestrians and bicyclists as well as support economic development efforts along the route,” said Representative Christina Minicucci.
“Capital funds from the MassWorks program grant will greatly benefit North Andover through infrastructure improvements on Route 125 that include public sewer, a new sidewalk, and widened shoulders for bicycle and pedestrian accessibility and safety that will build upon previous work completed by the town. This grant award is another example of how government can work well for our residents when people come together as state and local officials to support the community. I applaud the Baker/Polito administration for their support of this project,” said Representative Tram T. Nguyen.
Through the 2019 MassWorks round, the Baker-Polito Administration will award more than $72 million in MassWorks awards to a diverse mix of 36 projects in 35 communities across the Commonwealth, including nine Gateway Cities and eight communities that will receive MassWorks funding for the first time. The awards will unlock a total of $2.3 billion in private investment and more than 4,600 new full-time jobs, along with more than 3,100 new housing units, more than a third of which are affordable, building on the Administration’s efforts to tackle the ongoing housing shortage through complementary programs like historic funding for affordable housing and the proposed Housing Choice legislation. The transformative projects funded by the 2019 awards were selected from 92 applications, totaling $223 million in requests.
Between 2015 and 2018, the Baker-Polito Administration awarded more than $383 million in MassWorks grants to support 183 shovel-ready projects in 128 communities. MassWorks funding has made possible the addition and preservation of more than 2 million square feet of commercial/retail space, tens of thousands jobs, and 11,000 housing units, while leveraging about $6.9 billion in private investment.
Governor Baker signed economic development legislation in August 2018 that included substantial new funding for municipalities, including another $250 million for MassWorks awards. The legislation built on the Baker-Polito Administration’s work to partner with communities to catalyze economic development and create new opportunities for residents across the Commonwealth, including the 2016 Job Creation and Workforce Development act, which authorized $1 billion to support economic development efforts across the state, including a $500 million authorization for the MassWorks Infrastructure Program, enhanced tools and the introduction of new strategies for job-readiness efforts.
Learn more about MassWorks
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