Council authorizes MOU for Wexford parcel in Hamilton Canal Innovation District; developer aims for R&D facility

The City Council voted on May 13 to authorize the city manager to execute a memorandum of understanding (MOU) and temporary access agreement with Wexford Development LLC for Parcel 15 in the Hamilton Canal Innovation District (HCID).

Assistant City Manager Yovani Baez Rose told the council the MOU begins a time‑limited due diligence period for a proposed commercial research and development building that a Wexford client would occupy. Baez Rose said the developer intends to build under the district’s existing form‑based code and that early design discussions include balancing public‑facing curb appeal with the tenant’s elevated security needs.

Baez Rose said the planned timeline would give Wexford roughly a three‑to‑four‑month due‑diligence window followed by a 90‑day period to negotiate a land disposition agreement (LDA) and prepare for construction. She told the council the parcel, historically used as a National Park parking lot, was identified in the HCID master plan as a commercial parcel and the proposal is consistent with that planning work.

Councilors asked about jobs and parking. Baez Rose estimated the building could employ roughly “50 to a hundred” people depending on the project, and said employees were expected to use the Hamilton Canal garage, bicycle or walk rather than rely on site parking in keeping with the HCID form‑based approach. She also said the city will address an on‑site dirt pile before the property transfers and that the city has ongoing discussions with the National Park Service about improved maintenance and possible upgrades to the canal walkway.

Resident Isaac Blanchard, who had earlier highlighted the HCID in the meeting, supported the MOU and said Wexford’s focus on university‑aligned R&D made the project “a perfect fit” with UMass and the Link project. The assistant city manager said the parcel deal is intended to advance economic development in parallel with the Link efforts and is not meant to supplant other Link tenants.

The council approved the MOU and temporary access agreement by roll‑call vote; the item authorizes the manager to proceed with the limited due‑diligence period and continued negotiations toward an LDA.

Next steps: the city will complete the due‑diligence period, pursue a land disposition agreement if due diligence is successful and work with the developer and federal park partners on walkway maintenance and site preparation.