Former Deerfield Elementary School Property Recommended as Preferred Location for New Fire Station One
Westwood - After months of evaluation, analysis, and community engagement, the Fire Station One (FS1) Steering Committee has recommended the former Deerfield Elementary School property as the preferred location for a new Fire Station One. The recommendation was made during a joint meeting of the FS1 Steering Committee and the Select Board on August 7, 2026. Following the recommendation, the Select Board unanimously voted to support the Committee’s selection.
The FS1 Steering Committee was established in 2025 following two unsuccessful votes on a previous proposal for a new Fire Station One. The Committee was charged with evaluating viable options and identifying a path forward for a new station that meets the long-term needs of the Fire Department and the community.
The Committee held its first meeting in December 2025 and spent the winter evaluating eight preliminary site options using a comprehensive site evaluation matrix. In January, the Committee identified three Town-owned properties as finalists for further study:
637 High Street — the current Fire Station One site;
72 Deerfield Avenue — the former Deerfield Elementary School property; and
Lot 14-131 — commonly referred to as the “behind Starbucks” site.
Following the identification of the three finalist locations, significant additional work was completed. The Town engaged PMA Consultants as Owner’s Project Manager and Kaestle Boos Associates (KBA) as the project designer. At the Annual Town Meeting in May, residents approved funding for feasibility and schematic design work and the transfer of the former Deerfield school to the Town.
The project team also revisited the Fire Department’s programmatic needs, resulting in a revised station program that reduced the building size by approximately 19% compared to the 2025 proposal. In July, KBA presented preliminary site concepts and rough order-of-magnitude costs for each finalist location. Residents had the opportunity to review the information and provide feedback through an online survey, numerous meetings, and two community forums.
During its August 7 meeting, the FS1 Steering Committee deliberated on the three finalist locations and identified several factors supporting the Deerfield Avenue property, including:
Maintaining Fire Department operations during construction: The Deerfield site provides an opportunity to construct a new station without the operational challenges and temporary relocation needs associated with rebuilding at the current Fire Station One site.
Meeting current and future operational needs: The site provides the space needed to meet the Fire Department’s current programmatic requirements while allowing flexibility for future needs.
A more straightforward construction site: The existing developed, relatively flat site provides advantages for construction and site preparation.
Improved public safety campus coordination: The location strengthens the connection between Fire and Police operations by bringing public safety facilities closer together.
Preserving recreation opportunities: The site allows the Town to maintain significant recreation capacity while continuing to evaluate opportunities for improved fields and community use with improved stormwater and drainage.
Fire Chief Steve Lund thanked the Steering Committee members for their extensive work and dedication throughout the process, noting the significant amount of time and effort invested in evaluating options and engaging the community.
With the preferred site selected, the FS1 project will now advance into the schematic design phase and continue through additional technical review, public engagement, permitting, and required public approvals. This fall, the project team will complete schematic design site plans and renderings, as well as finalize project scope, budget, tax impact analysis, and financing plans.
The project will be presented to voters at a Special Town Meeting, tentatively scheduled for October 26, 2026, for project funding authorization. A Debt Exclusion Ballot Vote is scheduled for November 3, 2026. Both votes are required by state law and cannot be consolidated into a single vote.
The Town of Westwood, FS1 Steering Committee, and project team thank residents who participated in the process by attending meetings, reviewing materials, completing the survey, and providing feedback. The Town recognizes that this project represents a significant investment and an important decision that will impact Westwood for generations. The Select Board, Fire Department and project team will continue to engage with neighbors and abutters to incorporate community feedback into the developing design throughout the fall.
For additional information on the project, visit www.westwoodfs1.com