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City sells long-disputed 94 Pleasant Street to Matthias Properties
Summary
The City of Gardner completed a required RFP sale of 94 Pleasant Street after taking the property by eminent domain in February 2022; Matthias Properties won the bid and the mayor expects visible work in late spring.
The City of Gardner has sold 94 Pleasant Street, the long-disputed triple-decker across from Gardner City Hall, to Matthias Properties, Mayor Nicholson said during a mayoral update video.
The property had been the subject of protracted land court litigation and was taken by the city by eminent domain in February 2022 after years of unpaid taxes, the mayor said. Under Massachusetts law, publicly owned property sold by a municipality must be advertised for at least 30 days and bidders submit both a technical proposal and a separate price proposal. The city reviews and grades technical proposals first, opens price proposals only after the technical review, and the technical score can outweigh the highest price, the mayor explained.
Mayor Nicholson said Matthias Properties’ proposal was “impressive” and that he expects visible work on the building in May or June. The city will follow the state-required process for ranking and documenting the selection; the mayor noted those records can be reviewed by the Inspector General or Attorney General if requested.
Why this matters: 94 Pleasant Street is a high-profile downtown property whose rehabilitation could affect nearby foot traffic, property conditions, and future downtown investment. The sale completes a long legal chapter for the city and shifts responsibility for building rehabilitation to a private buyer.
Details and timeline: The mayor said the city followed the Massachusetts General Laws process for municipal property disposals, including a technical rubric scored by a three-person committee, public advertising and separate price proposals. He said Matthias Properties purchased the site and preliminary signs of work are expected in late spring. The mayor did not provide the sale price or specific redevelopment plans; he said Matthias would finalize details and the city would report further work updates when available.
Community context: The mayor framed the sale as part of broader downtown revitalization efforts, including reduced storefront vacancies and other private rehabilitation projects that have opened new apartments and businesses.
Provable record: The mayor described the RFP steps and legal oversight (Inspector General, Attorney General) but did not give the sale price or show the technical rubric in the update. The city clerk or purchaser will hold the full RFP record and contract documents.
Ending: Mayor Nicholson said he will provide more information as Matthias Properties finalizes its redevelopment plans and work becomes visible in the coming months.
