SWAMPSCOTT — The Veterans of Foreign Wars will have a new home in the coming years. With the development of affordable veterans’ housing now underway, the town also plans to construct a new post for the VFW that will be integrated into the new housing structure.
In March, the Select Board voted unanimously to purchase the properties located on 12 through 24 Pine St. with the goal of building a property for affordable housing. Swampscott has been working with Boston-based low-income housing program B’nai B’rith Housing to develop the concept for the building. The current design includes a four-floor structure with 40 one-bedroom units and a 1,538-square-foot room designated for the VFW. While the current VFW location is the same size, it also has a basement floor with the same dimensions. VFW Treasurer and Vietnam War Marine veteran Dave Emerton noted that the amount of space has been vital in allowing the VFW to accommodate all of the groups that use it.
“I envisioned that the VFW, the VFW Auxiliary, the DAV (Disabled American Veterans), and American Legion would all have a little office space,” Emerton said.
Town Administrator Sean Fitzgerald said the town has been constantly communicating with people in the VFW during the development process, and Emerton expressed gratitude to the town for being transparent throughout the process thus far.
“I told them that we want to be involved in all these discussions,” Emerton said. “We don’t want anything behind our backs.”
Emerton alluded to a general concern from his peers that the transition will ultimately result in a loss of space or amenities. The bar is one popular feature among its members, and Fitzgerald said he has certain reservations about including one in a new facility.
“Do we really want to have a bar in a residential building with veterans that may struggle with substance-use disorder?” Fitzgerald asked rhetorically.
However, Fitzgerald emphasized that the project is still being developed and is very flexible.
“There’s no set plan. But what we know is that we want to do something extraordinary,” Fitzgerald said. “We know that veterans need each other. They need a place to go and gather and talk about their experiences and support each other.”
The VFW and town leadership are scheduled to meet at the post on June 26 to further discuss what the organization would need in its new headquarters. Construction for the new housing complex is estimated begin in November 2025.
