Marlborough Councilors OK Downtown Development, But Alter Plans

MARLBOROUGH, MA — The Marlborough City Council Monday approved plans for an apartment building at the former Rowe Funeral Home site — but the council also altered the plans in a way that may stymie the development.

Developer JW Capital Partners proposed the 99-unit Exchange Place building at 57 Main St. in October. The building would rise next to Union Common where the white colonial Rowe building now stands.

Last month, the council's Urban Affairs committee gave preliminary approval to the site plan for the building. On Monday, At-Large Councilor Kathleen Robey, who chairs the Urban Affairs committee, called for an amendment to the site plan ahead of the final council vote.

Robey sought to amend the plans to boost the number of onsite parking spots at Exchange Place from about 30 to 60. She also amended the plan to bar the developer from using a nearby city-owned garage along Fulton Street for resident parking. To get around Marlborough's parking minimums, the developer was set to make a payment of $10,000 per un-built space.

Robey's amendment passed in an 8-2 vote. The full council then approved the amended Exchange Place site plan in a 7-4 vote.

Robey said her amendment was intended as a way to reduce the number of units in Exchange Place from 99. On the other hand, she said the developer had on multiple occasions said the building would only be profitable if it had at minimum 99 units.

Exchange Place has been a divisive topic for months in Marlborough, with some predicting wider downtown parking and traffic issues with a 99-unit building. But others argued that Marlborough needs the additional housing, and to bring more life downtown.

"The 57 Main St. project is a huge draw for Marlborough Hospital employees and potential employees as well as other employers in this region. Apartments, walkability, retail, a 'hip vibe' and a safe and friendly community is so desirable for many," Marlborough Hospital Vice President of Community Relations Ellen Carlucci wrote in a letter of support.

Brian Falk, an attorney representing JW Capital Partners, did not immediately respond to a request about what the developer plans to do following the council vote.