Newton's Finance Committee takes up a $2,972,982 proposal on Monday, Sept. 14, to buy a vacant West Newton building that could become the city's next police station.

The committee meets at 7 p.m. in Room 211 at City Hall to vote on Mayor Marc C. Laredo's request to purchase 492 Waltham St., the former Davis School building most recently operated by the nonprofit Family Access. The purchase would be funded entirely by general obligation borrowing, according to the Finance Committee agenda.

The Programs & Services Committee already approved the acquisition 6-0 on Sept. 9, with Councilor Micely not voting.

What the city would get

The property is a roughly 39,400-square-foot building on a 62,650-square-foot lot next to Davis Playground. It includes about 60 parking spaces. The circa-1921 Colonial Revival structure is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as part of the West Newton Historic District.

Family Access, which had owned the building since 1981, closed in June 2026 and notified the city of its intent to sell on June 4. The city holds a right of first refusal that gives it 180 days from that notice to act.

Price and terms

The $2,972,982 price tag comes from a formula built into the original 1981 sale agreement. It factors in the $225,000 Family Access originally paid, capital improvements, and an inflation adjustment tied to 50% of the Consumer Price Index increase. Mayor Laredo's letter to the City Council described the price as well below fair market value.

If the city passes on the purchase, Family Access can sell on the open market. The city would still collect 35% of the sale proceeds minus its purchase price under the existing agreement.

Police station connection

Chief Operating Officer Josh Morse wrote in a Sept. 2 letter to the City Council that one of the biggest challenges in the ongoing Police Station Project has been finding a temporary location during construction. The 492 Waltham St. property could fill that gap or, after further study, serve as a permanent station.

Morse wrote in the letter that approving the purchase would not determine the property's ultimate use. Any police-related use would require additional City Council votes and input from a Police Station Working Group that will include council representatives and community engagement.

What's next

Finance Committee Chair Rebecca Grossman leads the session. Residents can attend in person, join via Zoom (Meeting ID: 835 2985 0766), watch on NewTV (Comcast 9, RCN 13, Verizon 33) or stream via NewTV's YouTube channel. The committee also plans to take up a separate $623,130 transfer of excess bond proceeds from the Cabot school construction project to the Franklin school project.

If the Finance Committee approves the acquisition, the item moves to the full City Council for a final vote. No date for that vote has been announced.