Norwood commission approves $25,000 study of Norwood Central MBTA station

The Norwood Historical Commission voted to use a $25,000 state earmark to fund a feasibility study of the MBTA-owned Norwood Central Station building and asked town staff to draft the procurement scope for that work. The motion was made by Cheryl Doyle and seconded by Tony Yesco; members voted in favor.

Commission chair Judith Howard opened discussion by noting community requests to preserve the station and said the town does not own the building; the MBTA does. MBTA and outside consultants have already completed two reports: a property-condition assessment and a separate retail-use feasibility study. Those reports found the building structurally serviceable but in need of significant tenant-facing capital work and code upgrades to be usable for retail. Consultants told the group a food-and-beverage operator would likely be the best commercial fit and that a long-term lease and tenant-funded buildout could…