The City Council approved a purchase-and-sale agreement to transfer about 15–16 acres at 894 Middle Street — a long-standing brownfield site — to a private developer represented by Carrier Construction Company. The Economic and Community Development staff said the city used state and federal grants to remediate contamination and that both EPA and state reviewers have cleared the site for redevelopment subject to continuing groundwater monitoring and use restrictions in a confined rear corner.

Justin Malley, representing Economic and Community Development, summarized the site’s history: the property entered city ownership through tax foreclosure, the city applied for remediation grants and state funding, and the cleanup costs rose as additional contamination areas were discovered. Malley said the state contributed a $1.5 million remediation grant and the city provided additional funding for the cleanup.

Charlie Tallmadge, president of Development Planning Solutions, presented the Carrier Construction proposal: an industrial‑condo complex to be built in two phases comprising seven buildings and about 76,000 square feet of leasable space. Tallmadge said the developer expects 25–45 small industrial tenants and estimated the project would produce about $175,000 in annual tax revenue once complete. Vehicle access is planned principally from Enterprise Drive, with the developer also considering an enter‑only Middle Street entrance; wetlands, utility easements and a small remaining contaminated corner limit total usable area.

Council members said the city negotiated a reduction in the originally requested tax abatement and agreed to the city’s standard enterprise seven‑year tax abatement. The council waived reading of the purchase‑and‑sale agreement and approved the sale by motion; the motion carried.

The council instructed staff and counsel to finalize sale documents and confirmed that remaining environmental monitoring obligations will continue under the agreement. Several council members and economic development staff said they expect the project to create space for local trade and small businesses.