Brookline Eyes Newbury Land After College Closure Announcement

BROOKLINE, MA — Just hours after Brookline's legislative body voted to move forward on funding $6.2 million to advance building a ninth elementary school at the Baldwin school site in South Brookline, Newbury College announced it plans to close in a few months.

For years, Brookline has been searching and narrowing down options on finding a ninth elementary school and has discussed the possible need for a tenth to address space needs in the district. Although the Town voted to support the ninth elementary school at the Baldwin site, it has been contentious.

Chairman of the Select Board Neil Wishinsky immediately began to get calls and emails asking about whether the Town would consider it as a possible alternative to the Baldwin site.

"My phone has been ringing off the hook since the announcement," he told Patch in a phone interview Friday. "We're intersted for any one of many uses," he said. "But it's a little early."

The college campus sits in North Brookline's Fisher Hill neighborhood, neighboring the Fisher Hill Reservoir. The college currently owns seven parcels of land, totaling about 7.7 acres, estimated to be worth about $37.3 million, according to Town data.

Wishinsky took the email list serve where Town Meeting members discuss issues, first reminding them that the news is still raw for those who will be losing a school home or a job because of the closing; and then he addressed their question.

Town officials have been meeting on and off with Newbury College about public-private partnerships or purchase of the house lot on Hyslop Road and the parking lot immediately behind, where were until now the only two parcels for sale.

"If available to the Town, the Newbury campus’ proximity to two other existing elementary schools presents difficulties that we need to consider," said Wishinsky in an email to Town Meeting Members. "There are many identified municipal needs, in addition to schools, that some part or all of this campus could satisfy, especially considering its adjacency to Fisher Hill Park."

Although he did not indicate what the Town departments might be interested he did say Town Meeting Members and neighbors should stay tuned for meetings related to the future of the land.

"I am told there are already many interested parties in this site," he also wrote.

What's not clear is if the land is actually for sale.

"There's a lot of unknowns. The reality is that all that will come in the next few months as we figure things out,"said Sean Hennessey a spokesperson for the school in an phone interview.

Read Select Board Chair Neil Wishinksy's entire statement to Town Meeting Members:

This morning the President of Newbury College let us know for the first time that the college was likely to close. Neither I nor Town officials had any knowledge of this imminent closing prior to the President’s phone call. Please keep in mind the current students who are affected most by this news and public conversations.

Among several large parcel owners, we have been meeting intermittently with Newbury College about public-private partnerships and/or a purchase of property. Until now, Newbury was only able to have a conversation with us about potentially selling a house lot on Hyslop Road and the parking lot immediately behind. Newbury determined they needed the buildings on both sides of Fisher Ave. to fully support the students’ academic and student campus life.

I‘ve received many emails and phone calls asking about this site as a ninth school site. If available to the Town, the Newbury campus’ proximity to two other existing elementary schools presents difficulties that we need to consider. We’ve certainly all been focused on school facilities these past several years. There are many identified municipal needs, in addition to schools, that some part or all of this campus could satisfy, especially considering its adjacency to Fisher Hill Park.

Be assured that we will continue to explore all school and other municipal uses at this and other large parcels in Town. I am told there are already many interested parties in this site. We will also be having conversations with TMMs and the neighborhood as more information becomes available.

RELATED:

• Brookline's Newbury College To Close, Cites Financial Issues
• Brookline's Driscoll, Baldwin School Projects Move Forward

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Photo by Jenna Fisher/Patch Staff who can be reached at Jenna.Fisher@patch.com or by calling 617-942-0474. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram (@ReporterJenna).