Weston residents have repeatedly made their wishes clear: they want a restaurant at the Josiah Smith Tavern. After years of planning, public vote in 2019, historic preservation review, and permitting, The Woods is finally positioned to move toward construction. Yet the Select Board’s handling of the final agreements is putting that progress at risk.
Boston Urban Hospitality (BUWest), led by restaurateur (and Weston resident) Brian Piccini, has invested more than $455,000 of personal funds, offered to share investor commitments to evidence full capitalization, completed all construction documents, selected a contractor, developed a construction budget, and secured approvals from Historic New England and Weston’s Planning Board, Historic Commission, Permanent Building Committee, and Zoning Board of Appeals. It has also responded to the Select Board’s concerns by offering a $1 million construction escrow to protect the Town’s interests.
BUWest is now ready to apply for a building permit and begin construction.
Despite this progress, the remaining lease amendment and escrow agreement have not been finalized. On October 8 the Select Board issued a “final proposal” requiring execution by October 15 or threatening enforcement action, up to and including termination. The agreement is not workable as written; the Friends and BUWest replied with what was workable, what was not, and proposed how to move foward to construction. The Select Board has been unwilling to engage in meaningful discussion of the issues.
For example, the agreement requires BUWest to fund the $1 million escrow before the final lease amendment and escrow agreement are in place. It also makes any missed performance deadline a material breach, with no notice or opportunity to cure, even for a minor delay or circumstances outside BUWest’s control. These terms create unnecessary risk rather than a workable framework for completing the restaurant.
The agreement also departs from the original business terms that made the project financially viable. Those terms provided for a 180-day construction period following issuance of the building permit, followed by nine months of free rent intended to begin around the time the restaurant opened. The Town is not contributing a tenant improvement allowance toward the substantial cost of building out the restaurant, making this rent structure important to the project’s viability. Some Select Board members had expressed openness to restoring these terms, but the October 8 agreement instead starts the nine-month rent-relief period upon execution of the agreement, before the amended lease is even finalized. This would mostly consume the rent relief during permitting and construction, not when the restaurant is in start-up mode and most in need of operating leverage. It seems like the “Road to The Woods” finish line keeps getting moved back.
The Select Board has now met several times in executive session on this matter, leaving residents with no visibility into the Board’s position or the progress of negotiations. The Board has declined to designate a representative authorized to work directly with the Friends and BUWest to negotiate the business terms, subject to the Board’s approval. Instead, we’ve received multiple “final” proposals that contain unworkable provisions, with little opportunity to discuss or resolve the underlying issues.
The Select Board has a legitimate responsibility to protect the Town’s historic building. But that responsibility should be exercised through good-faith negotiation, not ultimatums. The Board needs to work directly, openly and constructively with the Friends of Josiah Smith Tavern and BUWest to resolve the remaining business terms and execute agreements that protect the Town while allowing construction to proceed.
If this project is stopped it won’t because BUWest has failed to complete all necessary steps to begin construction, or to secure financing for the project – Brian Piccini has delivered on both. Weston could face years of additional planning, approvals, and uncertainty. All the while Weston taxpayers will continue pay for upkeep of the Tavern. After the time, expense, and difficulty BUWest has endured to bring the project this far, there is no guarantee another qualified restaurateur will be willing to take it on.
Weston residents have made their wishes clear. We ask the Select Board to listen, negotiate in good faith, and finalize the agreements needed to bring The Woods to life.
You can voice your support by calling Town Hall 781-687-5000 or sending an email to the Select Board:
John F. McDonald, Chair: McDonald.J@westonma.gov
Alfred L. Aydelott, Clerk: Aydelott.A@westonma.gov
Lise N. Revers, Member: Revers.L@westonma.gov
Rebecca J. Mercuri, Member: Mercuri.R@westonma.gov
Anupam Sachdev, Member: Sachdev.A@westonma.gov
Not sure what to say? Something like this works: “I’m a Weston resident and I want The Woods open in spring 2027. Please appoint a liaison, negotiate directly with the Friends and BUWest, and finalize the agreements without further delay.”