The company spearheading the redevelopment of the Coolidge School into age-restricted housing will receive $11M in low-cost loans via MassHousing. The release, which you can see here, says nice things about Watertown officials' diligence in the decision-making process regarding the old school:

“A thoughtful analysis by the town of Watertown of the best use for the Coolidge School and strong community support determined that senior housing would be most beneficial to the community,’’ said MassHousing Executive Director Thomas R. Gleason. “The Coolidge development will not only rehabilitate and preserve a historic building, but it will also provide greatly needed affordable housing in Watertown for older residents.’’

H2otown agrees that it's a thoughtful analysis, but isn't it generally true that town-owned properties would always be used for age-restricted housing, because of fear of the potential cost of new enrollees in the town's school system? (That is, if the property in question isn't reused to create a municipal facility, as with the Browne School's upcoming transformation into a state-of-the-art police station?)