NORWOOD – The rumors are true, but the reality is complicated. A massive retail transformation is being proposed for the former Analog Devices industrial campus at the intersection of Route one and University, and it’s pitting neighbor against neighbor before the first brick is even laid.
The plan is ambitious: a 166,114-square-foot warehouse club paired with a high-capacity fuel station and a sea of 927 parking spaces. For many local shoppers, the prospect of bulk savings and cheap gas just minutes away is a dream come true.
For municipal leaders and neighbors, however, the project is a complex puzzle of tax windfalls, environmental cleanup, and a looming traffic crisis. While the prospect of bulk savings and rotisserie chickens is exciting for many, the logistical and political hurdles are substantial.
The 24-acre project site sits directly on the Norwood/Westwood line, creating a classic “border war” scenario. Critics argue the Town of Norwood is poised to benefit from the property tax revenue, while the Town of Westwood will bear the brunt of the “negative externalities.” Westwood residents will likely face increased traffic congestion, noise, and light pollution, all without seeing a dime of the tax benefit.
This imbalance has already sparked a Cross-Border Dispute, with Westwood residents launching a petition that has already garnered over 500 signatures in opposition to the plan.
The biggest elephant in the room is the intersection of Route 1, University Avenue, and Everett Street. Currently, Route 1 carries a staggering 48,365 Average Daily Traffic (ADT), while University Avenue sees another 14,700.
Adding a high-volume retailer like Costco could push the area into total gridlock. While MassDOT has a $26.5 million upgrade (Project 605857) planned to fix the infrastructure, there is a major timing conflict. Costco is targeted for an early 2027 opening, while the MassDOT Project is not scheduled to begin until Autumn 2027.
This leaves an 8-month gap where local drivers could be stuck in a “traffic nightmare” before any relief arrives.
In addition, critics cite the environmental impact of this project.The site isn’t just a patch of grass; it’s a former industrial campus requiring environmental remediation. Furthermore, the project falls within a Water Resource Protection Overlay District. With nearly 1,000 parking spaces and an underground fuel tank system, community members are raising alarms about potential stormwater risks and long-term soil health.
If you think this is a done deal, think again. While the Norwood ZBA has granted initial permits, the project still faces a gauntlet of approvals including from the Norwood Planning Board, for a rigorous Site Plan Review; the Conservation Commission, to oversee the water resource and remediation issue; and MassDOT, to address the infrastructure timing gap.
At the end of the day, this project represents a massive development opportunity, but its success depends on whether three separate entities (Norwood, Westwood, and MassDOT) can actually learn to play nice.
What do you think? Is the tax revenue and retail convenience worth the two-year traffic headache, or should the town send Costco packing? Let us know in the comments.-RD
Norwood resident here. This is an absolute nightmare waiting to happen. Traffic is already bad at this intersection you put a Costco in there and construction of it and you’re just asking for trouble. And whether MDOT says they have a traffic solution, look at the big dig. Cost massive amounts of money and really made traffic worse. If you need a Costco that bad go to Dedham a couple of miles down the road or Sharon a few miles down the road. Bad idea all the way around in my opinion