In a move that smacks of a political pay-off, a town official who played a key role in the passage of 40-R has been named an “Associate Partner and Director of Commercial Development” by the Thorndike Development Company.

Wilson served as chairman of a critical 40-R committee and went out of his way to champion the proposed 40-R bylaw during the political process.

Thorndike Development announced today (January 24), that R. Lindsay Wilson, who served as Chairman of the Chapter 40-R Design Review Drafting Committee, a key component of the 40-R process, has been hired by Thorndike Development, the same company for which the Design Committee were developed.

As a partner, Wilson will be the senior project manager of 1021 Kingston's Place and will now be representing the project before the Planning Board, the same board that had appointed him to his municipal position on the Design Review Drafting Committee.

Wilson, an attorney, was a partner in the law firm of Nixon-Peabody and moved into town in late 2006. Shortly thereafter he came forward and volunteered to serve on the Design Standards Committee, who met first weekly and then twice each month, working closely with Thorndike Development and more particularly Lloyd Geisinger, a principal in the firm. The Committee was dissolved on May 14, 2007 and within 8 months Wilson was hired by the Development Company his chairmanship benefited.

Without the Design Standards developed by Wilson and his committee, the 730 unit “1021 Kingston’s Place” could never have been placed on the warrant for town meeting approval.

Wilson’s new role now moves him into a partnership position and assumes the title of “Associate Partner and Director of Commercial Development.” With his prior position at Nixon Peabody, his profile read:

“Lindsay Wilson has a wide array of experience in all facets of real estate law, including the acquisition, development, financing, zoning and permitting of office, retail, resort and residential real estate projects. He also has significant experience in the representation of landlords and tenants in retail, office and industrial leasing and subleasing transactions throughout the United States. Mr. Wilson’s practice also includes advising institutional and private owners, investors and developers of real estate with respect to deal structuring and general corporate matters.

Mr. Wilson is an active member of the International Council of Shopping Centers, the Urban Land Institute and the Boston Bar Association. He is also a frequent lecturer for the Franchise Real Estate Institute in the area of retail leasing.”

Wilson was an ardent supporter of the project and embraced the efforts laid out by Lloyd Geisinger. During the campaigning that preceded the Town Meeting vote, Wilson had scheduled an open house for people to meet and talk with Geisinger. All Wilson asked of attendees was that they keep an open mind for the project.

This newspaper learned of the session and was determined to attend. When we sent someone to the door, Wilson announced that the meeting was suddenly cancelled and would occur at a future date. When the initial vote on 40-R fell short of the required numbers, Wilson appeared crestfallen.

The next evening the vote was successful, Lindsay Wilson chanted “yes, yes, we won!” Wilson’s efforts on behalf of Geisinger’s $300+ million dollar project were no doubt appreciated by Thorndike Development. It would seem reasonable to conclude that Wilson’s new position give rise to those conclusions.

Wilson’s pursuit of a private agenda in relationship to 40-R is nothing new. In April of 2007 the Observer published the following Ringside Report:

STAR SEARCH: Oh, how embarrassing to see posed pictures of Lindsay Wilson, Bob Kostka and John Haas appear with solicited endorsements in Lloyd Geisinger’s latest direct mailer. We’re not concerned that they have contrary opinions, but to be participating in the developer’s puff piece is a real sellout. Let’s tell a little story about one of this Kingston Trio. Lindsay Wilson...so new to the town that he doesn’t even appear on the 2006 Persons Listed Book. He registered to vote within 24 hours of being sworn in as a member of the Design Review Standards Committee. Shortly thereafter he and a partner bought the old Bickford’s Restaurant and leased it out to a Mexican Restaurant. During this same period Wilson was working on his next project, a purchase of those two empty lots on Main Street near Spring Street. He was also seeking to purchase a private lot on Spring Street along with an adjacent side lot in order to gain access from both Spring and Main. The point of interest was to build a multi story medical building with the possibility of a few townhouses. Wilson told TKO that his own home and half interest in the restaurant was his only land interest, that is until we raised the issue of Spring and Main. At that point Wilson conceded that this was the case but has scrapped the deal. Actually, the more accurate statement should have reflected his non-interest to read, "at this time." But wait, there’s more. TKO learned that Mr. Wilson, a supposed fair arbiter for 40-R, and Chairman of the Design Review Committee, had set up a private session at his Tall Timbers home with invited guest, Lloyd Geisinger. A hand picked cadre of invited individuals along with anyone they invited, were asked to attend the Geisinger pep rally. Wilson admitted the deed but defended himself by stating that his tenure on the Committee was ended and that he was a private individual hosting a private function. Pretty gullible for a lawyer (he’s with Nixon, Peabody in Boston) to think such thoughts. The Design Standards Committee has yet to be dissolved and in fact, changes have occurred and revisions have taken place as we go to press. Forget the fact that although the Design Standards document continues to morph on a weekly basis, no meeting has ever been called by Wilson. If the language of the Design Standards can change without any public action, why did we need a committee? So, Attorney Wilson, you are not quite the private citizen as far as your cozy relationship with Lloyd Geisinger is concerned; you raised your right hand when you were sworn in by the Town Clerk…you swore to uphold another set of standards, that which would be best for Kingston. That doesn’t include parlor games with developers or trying to put together a Main Street side deal that could only work with sewer capacity. That capacity can only be realized if Geisinger succeeds. If that happens, Wilson will then be interested "At that time."

Wilson grew up in Duxbury where his father handled insurance transactions for Mary O’Donnell, property owner of the future site of the Geisinger 40-R.

Wilson’s Official coming out party occurred this evening (January 24) when he and Thorndike official Kara Brewton sat in on the Landfill Reuse Committee. We asked him if he would make public the written Advisory mentioned in the Thorndike Press Release below. He claims that the Opinion allows him to now be employed by the company he worked so closely with on the local level. “That was a private matter between me and the Executive Director” sniped Wilson. We pointed out that it was all made quite public in the press release. “I’ll consider it” he responded. We pushed Wilson to name the person he spoke with and he said the Director’s last name was Wilson, “But we’re not related.”

This newspaper made a request with the Ethics Commission today to release the Advisory Opinion Wilson is placing such importance to. Realizing that written opinions are only issued when a request to the Ethics Commission is made in writing, we also asked for Wilson’s explanation of his situation. It is unclear if the “Wilson” Lindsay Wilson was referring to was actually the Executive Director. There have been some position changes within Ethics including the departure of the Executive Director last summer. Wilson may have extracted a letter from an interim source. It is possible that Wilson never submitted a letter. Wilson ended the conversation with “This is all I have to say to you.”

Welcome to Tombstone.

Join the discussion: The Lindsay Wilson Factor

Full Text of Thorndike Press Release:

BOSTON, Ma., Jan. 23, 2008—One of Massachusetts’ most innovative real estate development and construction firms is expanding its senior leadership team. Thorndike Development Corporation announced today that R. Lindsay Wilson II has joined the company as an Associate Partner and Director of Commercial Development.

Mr. Wilson brings to Thorndike more than ten years experience in the real estate field. In his new position, Wilson, a resident of Kingston, Ma., will be the senior project manager of 1021 Kingston's Place, a mixed use, transit-oriented development to be built in Kingston.

"We are very excited to have Lindsay Wilson join the Thorndike Development team. He brings a decade of experience in the real estate industry as a successful commercial real estate attorney and has a vested interest in the quality and outcome of Kingston's Place as a resident of the town," said Lloyd Geisinger, President of Thorndike Development.

Among the factors that went into his decision to join the company, Wilson cited Thorndike's commitment to environmentally responsible development.

"During my previous service as the chairman of the Design Standards Drafting Committee for the Town of Kingston, I came to know and respect Lloyd Geisinger and the Thorndike Development team,” said Wilson. “Thorndike has a proven track record of award winning development and is committed to the principles of smart growth and sustainable development. I am thrilled to have the opportunity to help bring high quality, environmentally responsible development to my home town of Kingston and beyond."

Having served in 2006 and early 2007on Kingston’s Design Review Drafting Committee, a volunteer technical assistance committee related to the Town’s then-proposed smart growth zoning district, Mr. Wilson was careful to confirm that there were no legal or ethical issues that would preclude him from joining Thorndike Development. Before making the move to Thorndike, Mr. obtained a written advisory opinion issued by the Executive Director of the Massachusetts Ethics Commission to this effect.

Prior to joining Thorndike Development, Mr. Wilson was a partner at Nixon Peabody LLP, a 700 lawyer national law firm. A graduate of Notre Dame Law School, Wilson is a former co-chair of the Boston Bar Association’s Land Use & Development Committee. He is an active member of the Urban Land Institute, where he currently serves on the Executive Committee of the Boston District Council.

About Thorndike Development Corporation: For more than 20 years, Thorndike Development Corporation has been creating quality homes and neighborhoods of exceptional craftsmanship and timeless design. Lead by co-directors Abbott Stillman and Lloyd Geisinger, the New England-based real estate development and construction company has been honored with numerous awards including eight national awards from the National Association of Home Builders in 2006, Builder of the Year (1999, BAGB), Top 10 Builders in Greater Boston (1999, Boston Business Journal), and Top 5 Builders in Greater Boston (1991, Builder Magazine).

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