A Request for Proposals (RFP) has been initiated to facilitate the search for a development team for the 90 Washington Street site.

By Keith Foster

A redevelopment meeting for 90 Washington Street, hosted by the City of Somerville, took place on September 2 via Zoom.

The City of Somerville and the Somerville Redevelopment Authority (SRA) are currently undertaking a Request for Proposals (RFP) process to select a development team capable of delivering a transformative, mixed-use development project at 90 Washington Street.

This is a nearly four-acre, transit-served site at the intersection of the Union Square, Brick Bottom, and East Somerville neighborhoods, and steps away from the East Somerville MBTA Green Line Station.

City staff reported on progress with Wood Partners, the path to a Land Disposition Agreement (LDA), related City Council timing, and ratified an escrow arrangement for a $50,000 deposit tied to the Developer Designation Agreement (DDA). All votes were conducted by roll call.

The Chair executed the Developer Designation Agreement (DDA) with Wood Partners on behalf of the SRA, initiating a 90-day window to negotiate a Land Disposition Agreement (LDA).

City staff is currently negotiating the LDA on behalf of the Authority and plans to return to the SRA’s next meeting with a draft negotiated LDA. Due to City Council timing, the next regular SRA meeting is planned for September 30; an additional SRA meeting may be scheduled earlier the same month. Upon SRA approval, the LDA would also require City Council approval.

Target: first City Council meeting in October (“on the 8th, the second Thursday of the month”) to enable committee referral and recommendation to the full Council. If the LDA parties approve the LDA, the development team would begin due diligence immediately and proceed with rezoning the property.

There is a tight timeline for zoning actions; items not completed by the end of December must restart the public process in January. If scheduling aligns, zoning could occur this year; if not, it would likely push to January.

Overall pace: Staff characterized the timeline as “ambitious,” with the intent to keep the process moving toward a potential sale schedule in early 2027. Process inquiries: Questions about the process were directed to staff member Benjamin Demers at BDEMERS@SomervilleMA.gov.

Next steps include staff presenting a draft negotiated LDA at the next SRA meeting. Planned next regular SRA meeting: September 30 (final week of September), with a possible additional meeting earlier that month. Target City Council schedule: Place the LDA before the City Council at its first October meeting (“on the 8th”) for referral to committee. Post-approval actions: If LDA is approved by all parties, the developer begins due diligence, and the City proceeds with rezoning.