MAYOR TO ACCEPT POWDER HOUSE SCHOOL REDEVELOPMENT RECOMMENDATIONS

The proposal
submitted by Tufts University involves combining the former school and Tufts
Administration Building (TAB) sites into a larger parcel that would face both
Holland Street and Broadway. The complex would include upgrades to the existing
TAB building, the construction of an administrative building with underground
parking on the site of the former school, a third building on the former school
site with either office or unaffiliated residential units (both affordable and
market rate available to the public), and the largest contiguous public green
space of any of the proposals. The Tufts proposal was the only submission to
propose adding significant daytime office space and employees to the Teele
Square area, and it creates significantly more open space than other proposals
in addition to an expansion of current open space. It also would maintain
building size that is consistent with a collaborative vision developed by
community members over the last three years. The University has expressed a
commitment to paying full property taxes on buildings they plan to develop.  

Two alternate
proposals by Davis Square Partners and Diamond Sinacori each propose
residential condominium developments for the site and were also recommended for
consideration by the Mayor.

 "The Powder House Community School was a valuable and
beloved community resource for many years, and planning for its potential reuse
or redevelopment has been an intensive community effort," said Mayor Curtatone.
"I want to thank the first the many residents who dedicated time to the
community process and I also want to commend the Committee for their diligence
in ensuring that their recommendation reflects the preferences of the large
number of constituents who took part in the many public meetings to plan for
this site. I look forward to also ensuring that we have a community development
partner that will help bring these ideas to fruition."

The site includes
an 87,599-square-foot parcel with an existing 80,857-square-foot building that
may be retained or demolished. Six proposals were submitted for review from:
Davis Square Partners, Diamond Sinacori, Mammoth Acquisition Company,
Powderhouse Development Group, Somerville Community Corp, and Tufts University.

The 15-member
committee included seven residents, one business representative, three
aldermen, one school committee member, and three City staff members. The Mayor
and City officials convened the Technical Advisory Committee in May 2013 to
review responses to the City's Request for Proposals (RFP) seeking partners to
reuse and/or redevelop the site.

The RFP sought
proposals that would meet the objectives of the neighborhood developed through
a two-year public process. Additional criteria included the experience of the
development team in developing the project and leading a community design
process, the long-term economic impact of the proposal, as well as the price
offered for the property. According to RFP criteria, a minimum of 40
percent of the site must remain public open space, and the pedestrian route
from Broadway to Holland Street must be preserved, enhanced, and maintained by
the community partner.

Technical Advisory
Committee member Richard Shortt noted that area residents met for over two
years in ongoing Focus Group meetings sponsored by the City to identify
community priorities. "The Committee paid close attention to what was
recommended by the Focus Groups and a majority of members are happy with the
recommended choice of Tufts University," he said. "Their proposal provides more
than double the open space hoped for, rather than just protecting existing open
space, the number one priority of residents who participated in the Focus
Groups."

Mayor Curtatone
plans to accept the Committee's recommendations, and will enter into
discussions to pursue an agreement with Tufts. Should an agreement not be
reached, the two alternate proposals will be considered. Once a final
recommendation is submitted to the Board of Aldermen and approved, the selected
development partner and the City will engage the community in a collaborative
planning process to establish how the plan will be designed on the site.

TAC members included:

• Alderman Bob Trane, Ward 7

• Alderman-at-Large Jack Connolly

• Alderman-at-Large Dennis Sullivan

• School Committee Chairperson Mary Jo Rossetti

• Business owner Connor Brenan of PJ Ryan's Pub

• Somerville
  residents:

  • Sean Becker

  • Frances Fisher 

  • Brian Harris

  • Jim Monagle

  • Mike Panis

  • Alex Pitkin

  • Richard Shortt

• Somerville
  City staff:

  • George Proakis, OSPCD, Director of Planning and
    Zoning

  • Stephen Houdlette, OSPCD, Economic Development
    Specialist

  • Luisa Oliveira, OSPCD, Senior Planner for
    Landscape Design

  • Nonvoting member: Angela Allen, Purchasing
    Director

For more information on the Powder House Community School
project please contact OSPCD at 617-625-6600 ext 2500.