Two 1930s Brick Schoolhouses Cleared for Historic Housing Revival

Abington, MA · October 4, 2026

Keep a warm layer handy for the flea market lawn this morning. A passing drizzle won't keep the costume parade or cider doughnuts from making their rounds.

The Lead

Town officials have formally cleared the path for Causeway Development to take ownership of the shuttered Center and North School properties, locking in a two-million-dollar purchase that ends six years of municipal debate over surplus buildings. Under the agreement, the developer will tap historic tax credits and state transit housing funds to convert both sites into fifty-six mixed-income apartments while keeping the 1938 Art Deco brick facades intact.

Crucially for neighbors along Thaxter Avenue, the town will legally retain the adjacent playground as dedicated municipal green space, with planners requesting an exterior hillside staircase to make park access easier from the street. The sale permanently removes long-term maintenance costs from the municipal ledger and is projected to generate substantial annual property taxes. Up next, the developer submits formal architectural blueprints to the Planning Board for site plan review.

Local Pulse

Oktoberfest Wraps Up With Family Festivities Community Beaver Brook and Memorial Field host flea market vendors, hayrides, and costume parades starting at nine this morning.
Regional Pact Expands Household Hazardous Drop-Offs Health The Select Board approved an agreement granting residents local access to regional depots for safe chemical waste disposal.
Planning Board Reviews Central Street Site Plans City Hall Board members gather Monday evening at Town Hall to evaluate commercial filings and subdivision surety adjustments across town.

Today's Outlook

High 61°F · Low 48°F — Drizzle (43% chance of precipitation)
- Keep a light waterproof jacket handy for afternoon dampness and cool breezes.

What's On Around Town

Today

Freaky Flea Market Beaver Brook Elementary (1 Gliniewicz Way), 9:00 AM–3:00 PM · Free Vintage finds, retro collectibles, and local vendors on the school lawn.
Trunk or Treat Beaver Brook Elementary (1 Gliniewicz Way), 10:00 AM–Noon · Free Costumed candy gathering and decorated vehicles hosted by Pack 41 scouts.
Oktoberfest Family Celebration Memorial Field (1027 Washington St), Noon–3:00 PM · Free Hayrides, German music, lawn games, food trucks, and a costume parade.

Tomorrow

Monday Night Bingo Whitman Knights of Columbus (1195 Bedford St), Whitman, 4:00 PM
Junior Cliffhanger Book Club Abington Public Library (600 Gliniewicz Way), 5:30 PM · Free
South Shore Quests Presentation Hingham Public Library (66 Leavitt St), Hingham, 7:30 PM · Free

Tuesday

Open Barnyard Weir River Farm (140 Turkey Hill Ln), Hingham, 10:00 AM–2:00 PM · Paid
After-School Brick Builders Norwell Public Library (64 South St), Norwell, 3:30–4:30 PM · Free
Community Preservation Committee Meeting Abington Town Hall (500 Gliniewicz Way), 6:00–7:00 PM · Free

Spotlight & Story

The Peerless-Capitol Theater
- Constructed in 1894 by harness maker Henry Crossley using handsome cut granite and brick, this depot-side facade bankrupted its builder before transforming in 1915 into a 300-seat silent cinema. Decades after the projector went dark, residential lofts occupy the old balcony.

Abington Daily Digest — compiled from local sources as of 6 AM. For breaking updates, follow your local newsrooms.

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