The Fernald Working Group is working to develop a community-based proposal for the redevelopment of the Fernald School site, one of Waltham's largest and last remaining tracts of developable land.

We propose to apply the principles of sustainable development that are environmentally and economically efficient, and that provide long-lasting benefit to the entire community, to direct the future use of the Fernald State School site in Waltham, Massachusetts. A large site of approximately 190 acres, the Fernald School property contains all of the elements needed for a model sustainable development:

• Enough acreage to enlarge current open space and counteract a history of sprawl in this community
• Historic buildings designed by renowned architects in need of renovation for adaptive reuse
• Location in a City and region in desperate need of housing of all types and for all incomes
• Inadequate connections to the current public transportation system which could be improved with minimal effort
• Contaminated land in need of reclamation
• Economic development opportunities such as corner stores and other small businesses, creating a neighborhood or community center atmosphere.

Because large developable tracts have become available recently, Waltham has been at the mercy of private developers who have pushed through large projects that have been viewed by many in the community as having a negative effect on the environment and further increasing sprawl. The community of Waltham is united in wanting to preserve open space and at the same time, increase the stock of affordable housing for its citizenry, but only by using ideas that come from within the community. Our proposal will show that these two desires are not mutually exclusive. We believe that this particular use of the Fernald site will demonstrate to other communities across the state that a balanced development strategy can enable all of us to maintain the character of our communities and provide a spectrum of housing and services without enormously increasing the demand on current infrastructure.