Wellesley College got the decision it wanted from the state Supreme Judicial Court regarding the North 40 property along Weston Road that it might sell to the town: The court has lifted the restrictions from the 1873 donation of the land that will now allow the school to sell the 46 acres to help fund its multimillion dollar campus renovation. Development of the land for non-college use had been prohibited by the donor (the land has been used in part for community gardens tended by residents and students).
The timing of the land’s possible availability is interesting in that Wellesley is already in the middle of trying to nail down its purchase of 494 Washington St., for the proposed senior center project. The St. James property situation on Rte. 9 also lingers. The town is forming a committee to explore uses for the North 40 property and has had talks with the college.
As for the North 40, the college is briefing residents and alums about the situation on May 6 at the College Club at 7:30pm.
MORE: Townsman coverage of town-college meeting