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Councilors press mayor on Danforth building transfer and whether state will cover courthouse remediation
Summary
Councilors questioned the timing and terms of the city’s transfer of the Danforth Building to the state and sought clarity on whether the state will remediate mold and asbestos at the old Middlesex courthouse before or after the property transfer.
Councilors pressed the mayor for details about the city's recent transfer of the Danforth Building to the state and for assurances about whether the state will pay remediation costs for the old Middlesex courthouse, which councilors had been told might be part of a property exchange tied to a regional justice center.
Councilor Cannon asked why the city completed the transfer of the Danforth parcel before the state acted to transfer the courthouse property that many councilors said had been described as part of an exchange. Cannon said the Concord Street parcel likely has "value well in excess of $10,000,000" and asked who will pay for remediation of mold and asbestos if the city accepts the old courthouse in the future.
The mayor explained the two transactions were separate: the state's acceptance of the Danforth Building was not conditioned on the state turning the courthouse title over to the city. The mayor said a home-rule petition filed by the city last year — which would authorize the state to offer the courthouse title to the city when the court no longer needs it — remains in the legislature and must be refiled for the current session. The mayor said the home-rule petition "authorizes" (but does not obligate) the state to offer the property and does not require the city to accept it if the title is offered.
Councilors repeatedly raised concern about remediation costs and said the council was led to expect the exchange would protect the city from those costs. Councilor Cannon said he and others were worried the city had "given up our leverage" by transferring the Danforth parcel before ensuring remediation obligations were secured in writing. The mayor and other councilors said the state is spending money to keep the courthouse functioning while judges still work there and that the administration expects to continue to pursue the matter with state officials and the legislative delegation.
Councilor Cannon asked the chair to place a future agenda item summarizing all real-estate projects with the state and their status; the council agreed to follow up. The mayor said the decision about whether the city would accept the old courthouse if it is offered will be deferred to the administration and council in power at the time of any offer.
