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Select Board authorizes negotiation on proposal to redevelop 3 and 13 School Street with mixed-use plan
Summary
The Select Board authorized the town manager to negotiate a purchase-and-sale agreement with Soma Builders for surplus town parcels at 3 and 13 School Street. The developer proposes to renovate the former fire station for commercial use and build mixed-use housing on the municipal parking lot; purchase price offered is $600,000 for both parcels.
The Select Board on Monday authorized the town manager to negotiate terms of a purchase-and-sale agreement for two surplus town parcels at 3 and 13 School Street after town staff said the request met the evaluation criteria in the town's request for proposals.
Background and proposal: the parcels consist of the old fire station at 3 School Street (declared surplus) and a small municipal parking lot at 13 School Street. The single responsive proposal came from Soma Builders, owned by Alex Mata. The firm proposed preserving the exterior of the former fire station for commercial use (the applicant suggested a coffee shop among possible uses) and constructing a mixed-use building on the parking-lot parcel with four commercial units on the ground floor and eight residential units above (proposal documents indicated two of the residential units would be two-bedroom).
Parking and public features: the proposer committed to reserving seven public parking spaces for general public use and retaining some on-site landscaping features. He also proposed to leverage nearby privately owned parking he controls at the adjacent property to meet demand. Select Board members and public commenters raised questions about total parking counts, configuration, and whether the developer could cooperate with nearby owners (including the owner of 9 School Street) to improve site design.
Purchase price and next steps: the developer proposed a purchase price of $600,000 for both parcels. The board voted unanimously to authorize the town manager to proceed with drafting and negotiating a purchase-and-sale agreement that would include contingencies such as town meeting approval for disposition of the town-owned parcel and required permitting. The negotiated draft would be returned to the Select Board for review and approval before execution.
Historic and permitting notes: the proposal will require review by the Historic District Commission and other town permitting processes. Select Board members reminded the developer that the proposal and public materials are part of the public record and said those materials would inform the town meeting presentation of any disposition article.
Ending: the Select Board vote was unanimous and the manager will return with a draft purchase-and-sale agreement for approval and town-meeting briefing if negotiations succeed.
