Congress moving to free S. Weymouth air base

U.S. Rep. William Delahunt said today he expects Congress to pass legislation by October that would jump start redevelopment of the South Weymouth Naval Air Station by allowing the government to transfer ownership of the property for free.

"We have turned the corner," Delahunt said in an interview, "This should act as a catalyst to accelerate the development."

He spoke following approval of legislation by the House Armed Services Committee yesterday that would allow the Navy and other government entities to transfer surplus land at no cost if it promotes economic development. The bill still needs approval from the full House and Senate.

Currently the redevelopment of the air base is stalled because the public agency that negotiated a $43.6 million purchase of the 900-acre site with the US Navy is having trouble raising money to complete the purchase. Delahunt said a land transfer would expedite the redevelopment of so-called SouthField, a mini-city that would include more than 2,800 housing units, a golf course, movie studios, stores and restaurants.

If the legislation passes, the public agency overseeing the redevelopment, South Shore Tri-Town Development Corp., would get the land for free, but would still have to work out details of cleaning-up the property, which accounts for $32 million of the $43.6 million purchase price. Tri-Town ultimately plans to turn over the property to LNR Property Corp., the air base's private developer.

The head of Tri-Town said he is optimistic the deal can get done and that Tri-Town will be able to borrow money for road improvements and other upgrades.

"Our bond advisers are telling us they're seeing signs the markets are starting to loosen up, so we just need to look at the parameters and see how we fit into that," Tri-Town chief executive Kevin Donovan said.