Local Developers Chosen to Redevelop Waterworks Park

An equity partnership between Diamond and Edward A. Fish, another prominent local developer, will finance the $67 million mixed-use development. The rest of the development team will include Graham Gund Architects, DiMella Shaffer Associates, Brown, Richardson & Rowe and Suffolk Construction. Diamond's company recently redeveloped the Dedham Jail into a high-end condominium development.

While a community group wanted Diamond, some members of the state agency indicated to Diamond that he would not be chosen. After a public outcry, the official announcement was issued that Diamond would be leading the development team. But Kevin Flannigan, a spokesperson for DCAM, tells GlobeSt.com that the incident was a result of a "miscommunication." He says that while Diamond got the message that he wasn't getting the contract, "that decision was in fact never made. It was before the commissioner [David B. Perini] made any final decisions."

The Chestnut Hill Waterworks facility is located at the confluence of three neighborhoods, Brighton, Brookline and Chestnut Hill. It was constructed over many years during the late 1800s and served as a key component of the city's water supply network for nearly 100 years. The facility has not been in active use for some time, and the Massachusetts Water Resource Authority formally declared the site surplus in 2002.

Private developers competed for the right to develop a vacant portion of the 7.9 acre campus in exchange for a commitment to preserve and adaptively reuse the historic buildings as part of their proposals.

The state says Diamond's Waterworks Park, which involves 94 condominium units, a museum, a restaurant and community space, was selected because of the three finalists this project proposed the lowest amount of square footage for new construction and for the overall development. Diamond also offered a significant community benefits package that provides a sound and light show for the Waterworks Museum, and contributes to the restoration of the parklands surrounding the reservoir, and improvements to the Cleveland Circle streetscape.