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.