Stow moves toward welcoming $28M private school as Bose Corp. vacates

Photo | The Masters Academy Stow's former Bose campus is set to become a private sports academy.

Write a Comment

By Katherine Hamilton

The Town of Stow voted to rezone its former Bose Corp. campus in favor of a for-profit boarding school to be located on the nearly 82-acre site, according to the town’s website.

In a special town meeting on Oct. 31, the town voted 260-10 to amend the industrial district zoning bylaw to allow private schools, colleges, and dance/music academies.

Bose Corp., an audio equipment manufacturer, announced in early 2021 it would vacate its Stow campus and move nearly 1,500 employees to its headquarters in Framingham, according to Stow’s website. Bose has occupied the campus since 2003 when it bought the property for almost $13 million.

In September, Bose entered a purchase-and-sale agreement with The Masters Academy, a for-profit school for grades 6-12 with a focus on sports. According to the school’s proposal, the development of the site will include a $28-million investment, with the construction of an ice rink, several units of workforce housing, and outdoor athletics fields.

The former campus on Route 117 has two existing buildings totalling 373,000 square feet. In 2004, Bose was approved for an additional five office buildings which were never constructed, per the website.

The site is assessed by the Town of Stow at $14 million. The Master’s Academy intends to open in fall 2023 at less than a third of its capacity, and expects to eventually enroll 700 students, per its proposal.