Keating Announces 10,000 Jobs to Come to Massachusetts

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
November 14, 2011

KEATING ANNOUNCES 10,000 JOBS TO COME TO MASSACHUSETTS
Southfield Land Transaction To Be Finalized With Navy Tomorrow


Boston, MA – Rep. Bill Keating announced today that the long awaited transfer of the remaining land at the former South Weymouth Naval Air Station will occur next month.  Master Developer LNR Property, LLC will sign a Purchase and Sale Agreement tomorrow for a transfer of the closed military facility on December 15, 2011.  The former air station will be transformed into SouthField, a mixed use, smart growth transit oriented development that is projected to create 10,000 permanent and construction jobs over the next ten years.  The final negotiations focused on the environmental remediation conditions of the site.

“I spoke to LNR this morning and am proud to report that this transfer will definitely be taking place next month,” said Rep. Keating.  “At a time when many people across the country are out of work, this project will be creating 10,000 desperately need jobs in Massachusetts and that is something we should all be thankful for.  Southfield is the largest active development anywhere in this area, and its long term importance to the region and the Commonwealth cannot be understated.  I especially want to thank the Environmental Protection Agency and Region 1 Administrator Curt Spaulding for their constant attention to this matter over the last several months.  The EPA’s clear direction to the Navy that an environmental remediation in accordance with the SouthField Reuse plan was not negotiable was vital to this project’s ability to move forward.  I want to thank Mayor Kay, the Weymouth Town Council and State Representatives Ron Mariano and Jamie Murphy for their help making sure that Southfield is an environmentally-safe place to live and work.”
 
LNR Vice President Kevin R. Chase added: “It is because of the commitment from Congressman Keating, Senator Kerry, Governor Patrick and Secretary Greg Bialecki that we are able to make the financial investment necessary to close on this transaction.  Development of this property could not occur without certainty that the environmental standards associated with the Reuse Plan would be in place.  The direction set forth by the EPA and the MA Department of Environmental Protection and the continual attention of Congressman Keating and Secretary Bialecki provided the foundation for LNR to make this commitment. For LNR, it has been nine years in the making and we look forward to bringing SouthField’s smart growth master plan to fruition.”