Redevelopment
There are currently plans to put movie studios, shops, housing, a wildlife park, and a golf course at the site of the former air station. The U.S. Coast Guard also maintains a buoy maintenance facility near the old railroad spur to the station. An A-4 Skyhawk jet mounted on a pedestal in a small park called the "Shea Memorial Grove", named for Squantum reservist CDR John "Jack" Shea who was killed in action when the aircraft carrier USS Wasp was sunk during WWII, remains as a perpetual reminder of the site's naval heritage. The jet, the park, and a small Navy museum (the Shea Field Naval Aviation Historical Museum) located in the former base gymnasium building (The Shea Fitness Center) are maintained by a local veterans' organization called the Association of Naval Aviation Patriot Squadron. The museum, which serves as a repository of photographs, documents, and other artifacts pertaining to NAS Squantum and NAS South Weymouth, is open from 9 AM to 11 AM on the last Saturday of the month. Admission is free.
In December 2008, a deal was reached to build a movie studio complex on the site. The $100 million complex, to be called SouthField Studios, is planned to include 11 sound stages, production offices and other office space. Construction was set to begin in August 2009, but has been stalled due to financing difficulties.
The base also features a planned condominium community development called 'SouthField'. Construction work began on the first residential development on SouthField during December 2010 and the first homes were sold and occupied by the summer.
Read more about this topic: Naval Air Station South Weymouth