After a court ruling forced Somerville to pay an additional $29.8 million for property it had taken, mayor Katjana Ballantyne announced Wednesday that the city will abandon its original plans for a public safety complex at 90 Washington St. The city now plans to rezone and sell the site for mixed-use development, prioritizing housing and retail.
The proceeds from the sale are expected to help offset the cost imposed by the court’s decision. As the city moves forward with plans, it will explore interim solutions for the police and fire departments, including facility upgrades and necessary maintenance investments, Ballantyne said online.
“We understand that this shift in possibilities and plans may raise questions from our public safety officers and the community,” Ballantyne said. “It does for us too, so we’re getting right to work, and we’ll be out discussing this with staff, the 90 Washington Street Civic Advisory Council, the Somerville Redevelopment Authority and the City Council to keep the community up to date.”
The city acquired the 4-acre property on Cobble Hill in 2019 through eminent domain under former mayor Joe Curtatone’s administration, paying $8.8 million to the site’s previous owners.
Officials intended to build a public safety complex to house police and fire departments. Initial plans called the property big enough to accommodate a public safety complex “as well as new retail, commercial, residential and community uses in complementary buildings, green spaces and civic areas.”
The previous owners of the former Cobble Hill Shopping Center site contested the compensation, arguing it was insufficient given the property’s potential value. A Middlesex Superior Court jury sided with the former owners, valuing the property at approximately $35.3 million. Consequently, the city was ordered to pay an additional $26.5 million plus $1.4 million in interest. After an unsuccessful appeal, city leaders opted not to pursue the case further in the Supreme Judicial Court.
Officials are also exploring the possibility of integrating a new fire station, Engine 3, into the development through a private-public partnership, a model previously used for the soon-to-open Assembly Row fire station.
The shift in plans raises questions about the future of public safety infrastructure in the city. Ballantyne emphasized that officials are seeking alternative solutions, including maintenance investments and upgrades to existing facilities.
As Somerville grapples with a housing crisis, Ballantyne argued that redeveloping 90 Washington St. for residential use will serve a pressing need.
“Under the changed circumstances, that best use is clearly homes to help address the housing crisis – including market and affordable units right next to our new East Somerville T stop,” Ballantyne said.
As city officials grapple with the financial and logistical challenges of the project, Ballantyne emphasized the difficulty of the decision.
“This decision was not made lightly,” she said. “We remain unwavering in our commitment to providing our public safety personnel with the facilities they need, but the unforeseen costs associated with this particular property have significantly impacted our ability to proceed with the original plan for a combined public safety headquarters. But this is Somerville, so this is not the end.”
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