Spring is new target for Woods opening, restaurateur says

The team behind The Woods restaurant submitted its response on Monday to the Select Board’s July 6 ultimatum, providing a timeline – including a projected March 2027 opening – and an estimated budget for the project.

The Select Board outlined a series of demands in a June 4 letter to the Friends of the Josiah Smith Tavern, the nonprofit that leases the historic building from the town. The letter threatened the termination of the Friends’ lease if the requirements were not met. The Board requested six items from the group, including cost estimates and an updated timeline, which were both provided in restaurateur Brian Piccini’s response on July 6. 

As of Tuesday morning, it was unclear if the document provided satisfied the Select Board’s requests. Town Manager Leon Gaumond said Board members were reviewing the response.

“They’re going to review it, and that could lead to further discussion at the Select Board meeting,” he said. “I will follow their guidance.”

Friends President Jay Valenta said the packet provided by Piccini reflected work that had already been done.

“None of this was put together in response to the Select Board’s request,” Valenta said. “It all represents work that is ongoing.”

Piccini and Select Board Chair John McDonald have yet to respond to requests for comment. 

Coverage on the Josiah Smith Tavern

In Piccini’s response to the town, he estimated the total project cost will be about $4.3 million, with the majority– around $2.3 million – going toward construction. This includes $168,000 in contingency funding as a cushion for unexpected costs associated with renovation of a historic building, according to Piccini. 

The restaurateur claimed the legal, administrative and licensing costs of the project – just over $721,000 – are “significantly higher” than the industry norm. In Piccini’s response to the Board he stated that the cost is driven by multiple town meetings, coordination with Historic New England (which holds a historic deed restriction on the property), acquiring a liquor license, zoning variance support and certificate of occupancy requirements.

The Select Board also demanded assurance of financial security to ensure the completion of the project. Piccini’s company BU West and the Friends have proposed an escrow account to hold construction funding, which they are working on with the help of Town Counsel.

The June 4 letter also requested a comprehensive business plan with a timeline, a permitting memorandum and a list of obligations for BU West, the Friends, Historic New England and the town. Whether Piccini’s submission meets the requirements is yet to be determined.

With most board approvals in hand, Piccini is targeting the end of the month to submit Zoning Board of Appeals and building permit applications. These would be the last necessary town approvals before construction could begin.

Piccini’s timeline estimates that shovels could be in the ground by September and a grand opening could be held in March. Piccini’s earlier goal, which he stood by in June, was for the restaurant to open in the fall.

The Permanent Building Committee, which reviews plans on behalf of the Select Board, says the current construction documents are solid enough to apply for a building permit, according to an email from Chair Jim Polando.

“Please be aware that there are a few details that remain unsettled, but it is the PBC’s position that the drawings are complete enough to be submitted for a building permit,” Polando said in a message to those involved with the project.

This comes after earlier concerns raised by the Permanent Building Committee about the lack of detail in previous versions of construction documents. The Select Board demanded full construction documents in its ultimatum, which it and the Planning Board had also requested in the past. Piccini’s team submitted the latest version of construction documents to the town on June 11, which were approved by Historic New England.

According to the Permanent Building Committee’s report, “the documents appear substantially complete.” The Committee requested a re-issued set of structural drawings that reflect discussed changes. Outstanding demands from the Committee include a meeting with an expert on exterior wall design and clarification on whether the placement of the air intake unit is up to code.

Valenta said the support from the town and its residents has helped the work move forward.

“What’s kept me moving forward and engaged is the support we’ve seen from residents,” Valenta said. “Brian is demonstrating real commitment in moving the process forward. I continue to have very strong confidence in Brian and his team.”