WESTFIELD — The Westfield Advocates for Responsible Development, an ad-hoc citizens group concerned with overdevelopment, has dismissed its appeal against the town’s planning board and redeveloper James Ward, whose mixed-use redevelopment project, The Sophia, is expected to be built at the intersection of Prospect Street and Ferris Place later this year.
“Westfield Advocates has dismissed the appeal in the matter of Ferris Prospect Development and in light of current status of litigation has decided to focus its resources to address concerns with the larger development projects having the most impacts to the town,” said Frank Fusaro, one of the organization’s founders. “The town government, including officials and staff, must be accountable to residents’ needs and expectations for holistic development for the future of Westfield with full transparency and authentic community engagement.”
The appeal was filed earlier this year after a state Superior Court judge ruled against the Advocates back in February.
According to the project’s redevelopment agreement, reached in May of 2022, plans for the site include 60 residential units (at least nine of which will be deed restricted to help the town meet its affordable- housing obligations), underground parking and 500 square feet of street-level retail space that Mr. Ward says he plans to use to build an “intimate, French-style café.” The agreement also includes provisions to convert an 18th-century home that currently sits on the property into a cultural center that showcases Westfield’s history.
“We are moving forward with the project and hope to break ground soon,” Mr. Ward said. “We have already started the process by disconnecting all of the utilities to the property and removing fences and ground brush.”
According to the Advocates’ website, the group has raised $20,145 in contributions to cover legal fees associated with the Sophia litigation.
The group’s website indicates that it was still collecting donations for this purpose as of the date of publication.
The Advocates also have taken legal action against the town and the redevelopers behind One Westfield Place, a large-scale, mixed-used project slated for construction along the transit corridor. In March, a Superior Court judge ruled in favor of the project, noting that the Advocates had “failed to meet their burden” in proving that the redevelopment would be inconsistent with the town’s Master Plan.
“Our lawyers have filed an appeal regarding One Westfield Place,” Mr. Fusaro said. “We will continue to advocate for proper comprehensive planning in Westfield and also full community engagement to influence decisions before they are made. This local government needs to better understand that there are always alternatives and proper lead times necessary to reach consensus, especially when proposals seek to significantly alter the built environment. Westfield’s suburban and historic town character and neighborhood feel must be articulated, considered and prioritized in any major development project.” Earlier this year, Mayor Shelley Brindle estimated that the town has spent upwards of $70,000 — $20,000 in defense of The Sophia and $50,000 in defense of One Westfield Place — on legal challenges related to the two redevelopment projects.
“We believe that the trial court decisions in both cases speak for themselves,” Town Attorney Tom Jardim said. “In the case of The Sophia judgment, we are pleased to see the plaintiffs acknowledge the comprehensive and definitive decision by the judge by withdrawing their appeal. We will continue to vigorously defend the appeal in the One Westfield Place case, where we expect to be successful.”
