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Committee debates sale of West Lyon Street parking lot; councilors ask for more analysis
Summary
The mayor proposed selling the West Lyon Street parking lot to clean up mixed public/private parking rights; councilors expressed concerns about losing downtown parking and asked for more data on designated spaces, alternatives such as leases, and the timing relative to the Remain Street parking project.
Mayor Nicholson presented a request to declare the land at 13–17 West Lyon Street surplus for disposition Wednesday, saying the site is unique because planning-board decisions assign some spaces to private entities while the city maintains the lot. "To clean that up… I'm requesting that we sell the lot… and then put it out for the RFP process," the mayor said, noting the Remain Street construction of about 100 parking spaces and recent reconstruction of a parking deck factor into timing.
Councilors raised multiple concerns about losing public parking for downtown residents and winter parking needs. Councilor Mack said she was worried about taking away off-street parking that residents and apartment renters depend on, and councilors asked for details on current space assignments and who has rights to the lot. The mayor and staff said the lot is currently under a license agreement with Mass Ave Rentals and that Gosnell Pearson Building residents technically have rights to park there under special permits; the mayor said he would obtain the special-permit documentation and data on how many spaces are designated.
The administration outlined a timeline if the city proceeds with a sale: a minimum 30-day advertising period for real estate, about 30 more days for proposal review, and an additional 30–45 days for closing and related steps — which would likely place completion in December–January, roughly coinciding with the completion of Remain Street construction. Several councilors said they were not ready to recommend sale without further due diligence, appraisals or consideration of alternatives such as long-term leases that would preserve some municipal control. Councilor Beck suggested the city could pursue winter parking decals or similar management tools instead of selling the lot.
The committee did not vote to recommend sale; members asked the mayor to return with parcel valuation data, the planning-board special permit details, the division of designated spaces, and analysis of lease alternatives.
