Politics & Government
Medford To Develop Area Above Wellington Station
Approximately 28 acres of MBTA-owned land at Wellington Station could become affordable housing or an MBTA bus maintenance facility.
MEDFORD, MA — The City of Medford has issued a Request for Information (RFI) from developers interested in developing the city-controlled air rights over approximately 28 acres of MBTA-owned land at Wellington Station.
Under Chapter 729 of the Acts of 1969, the Massachusetts Legislature directed the MBTA to “lease to the City of Medford air rights including rights for support, access, utilities and light and air, for a term of years not exceeding ninety-nine years” for a “nominal rental.”
Soon after the issuance of these rights, the city, the MBTA and the Federal Highway Administration conducted a feasibility study showing the opportunity for housing and commercial development on the site. Since that time, no action has been taken by the city to activate the air rights.
Find out what's happening in Medfordfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
“The City has been aware of these rights for decades but hasn’t taken the initiative to act on them,” Mayor Breanna Lungo-Koehn said in a statement. “Given the site’s proximity to transit we think it is an ideal location for a mix of uses, including affordable multi-family housing, and has the potential to be an amazing gateway to the City. An RFI is the first step in the process and there will be plenty of opportunity for community input going forward.”
The RFI will allow the city to better understand developer interest in the area and potential development scenarios. Respondents are encouraged to review citywide plans and align proposals with community goals related to affordable housing, climate and resiliency, recreation, mobility, entertainment, and the arts.
Find out what's happening in Medfordfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Information gathered from the RFI will inform a future Request for Proposals and any additional planning that is necessary to act on the air rights.
Lungo-Koehn and city staff have met with the MBTA to discuss future plans for Wellington Station, specifically the MBTA’s interest in locating a bus maintenance facility on the site. The RFI references the MBTA’s goals for the site and asks interested developers to take them into consideration.
Responses to the RFI are due Monday, October 31 and any questions should be emailed to econdev@medford-ma.gov. The RFI can be found here.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
