ABINGTON — September 8, 2026 — Master developers of Union Point announced that vertical construction and initial roadways on the former South Weymouth Naval Air Station are finally moving forward after closing on the land and awarding their first major construction contract. However, while over 2,500 homes have been pre-sold on the Weymouth portion of the base, development on Abington’s 179-acre footprint remains entirely on hold pending solutions to the South Shore’s long-standing water supply shortage.
The Full Story
Following decades of false starts, bankruptcies, and regulatory stalls under previous operators, New England Development Vice President John Twohig and Paul Cincotta appeared before the Abington Select Board during a public hearing on Tuesday evening to deliver a sweeping update on the 1,440-acre redevelopment site.
The developers closed on the property purchase on June 30, 2026, and officially awarded the project’s first roadway and infrastructure contract last week, with shovels hitting the ground within two weeks. The initial 1.5-mile roadway will branch off Shea Drive at Route 18, reconfigure the turn behind the jet plane memorial, bypass the sports complex and the former Navy gym, and connect straight down through the parkway roundabout to the Weymouth–Abington line. Utilities—including water, sewer force mains, drainage, and a new pump station—will accompany the corridor to unlock 10 initial development parcels.
Yet, the developers candidly laid out the stark geographic divide governing the massive site: all current development is restricted to the Weymouth side. Weymouth has allocated 450,000 gallons per day of municipal water to the project, but municipal law strictly prohibits those supplies from crossing town borders into Abington or Rockland.
“We have over 2,500 homes pre-sold, and that’s a combination of multifamily, single-family, townhomes, and over-55 developments... All in Weymouth, because that’s the only place we have water.” — John Twohig, Vice President, New England Development
To permanently resolve the regional water crisis, Weymouth and the Southfield Redevelopment Authority (SRA) have applied to join the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA). Backed by a $35 million state funding commitment and legislative support from Massachusetts House Speaker Ronald Mariano, the plan involves constructing an estimated $100-plus million, 36-inch water transmission line extending seven miles from Quincy and the Blue Hills down into Weymouth’s Great Pond treatment facility. The line will deliver roughly 14 million gallons per day—5.5 million designated for Weymouth and base development, leaving excess capacity for neighboring South Shore communities.
However, that pipeline will not be operational until 2031 or 2032. Because developers want to avoid waiting six to eight years to initiate Abington’s portion—which is planned for commercial office space, institutional facilities, and senior/over-55 townhome housing—they have opened negotiations with the Abington-Rockland Joint Water Works. The developer has signed a preliminary memorandum of understanding reserving 350,000 gallons per day from the City of Brockton and is exploring capital improvements to existing local wells to unlock earlier construction in Abington.
Addressing fiscal concerns from Select Board members, Twohig noted that an updated fiscal impact study projects Abington will net roughly $4 million to $4.5 million annually in new growth revenue after factoring in town services like police, fire, DPW, and schooling. By statute, Chapter 40B affordable housing developments are excluded from the base, and developers emphasized that target demographics for over-55 and townhome communities historically generate very low student enrollment.
Hazardous Waste Regional Depot Delayed for Contract Review
Earlier in the meeting, Claire Galkowski, Executive Director of the South Shore Recycling Cooperative (SSRC), presented a proposed Intermunicipal Agreement (IMA) to establish a permanent, year-round Household Hazardous Waste Depot at the Hanover Transfer Station. The project, backed by a $250,000 state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) grant, seeks to replace the current system of 12 seasonal pop-up events across the South Shore.
Galkowski reported that the region faces severe cost and operational vulnerabilities due to an extreme shortage of licensed hazardous waste contractors, with only two operating across the Commonwealth. Under the agreement, 12 South Shore communities must sign the IMA before construction contracts can be awarded in late October. Operating costs would add roughly $2,400 annually per town, which could be offset by small resident co-payments ($10 to $30 based on volume).
While Select Board members expressed conceptual support, they voiced reluctance to serve as the first community to sign without legal vetting. On a motion by Daniel Eddy Jr., the board voted unanimously to continue the matter to September 28 to permit review of the multi-page legal contract.
Public Safety Honors and Flock Camera Fallout
The meeting opened with formal honors for Police Sergeant Stephen Marquardt upon his retirement following nearly 34 years of continuous service to the Abington Police Department. Select Board Chair Paul Bunker read an official town citation, and State Representative Alyson Sullivan-Almeida presented a resolution entered into the record by the Massachusetts House of Representatives commending Marquardt’s career, which included a lifesaving rescue of a woman from the path of an oncoming train.
