Medford Releases Developers' Visions For Wellington Development

MEDFORD, MA — Life science office space, multifamily housing and a waterfront boathouse and marina represent some of the many possible facilities proposed for the area around Wellington Station in Medford through a recent request for information process involving city officials and developers.

The city of Medford issued its request to developers in September, seeking concept designs for development projects in city-controlled air rights over 28 acres of MBTA-owned land at Wellington Station.

Officials released concept designs for public viewing on Friday.

“The City had been sitting on these air rights for decades and had not realized the potential the area had for creating a transformative environment for significant commercial and residential growth” Medford Mayor Lungo-Koehn said in a statement.

“We have an opportunity here to make a substantial investment in transit-oriented housing and mixed-use development which can make the Wellington area a destination for new businesses, families and workers,” she continued.

The Wellington Station area now eyed for development overlays existing parking lots and MBTA facilities on either side of the station's central rail line.

The overall plot of Medford air rights is split into two parcels, with Medford officials listing a 10.75-acre space to the east of the rail line as a priority development area. That space is currently predominantly occupied by parking lots.

The city, in its request for information, relayed additional guidance from the MBTA for potential developers. Among asks, any developer working at the Wellington property will be required to accommodate a planned bus maintenance facility while ensuring no net loss in parking at Wellington.

Eight developers ultimately put forward initial concept designs in response to Medford’s request for information. Developers included Able Company, Greystar Real Estate Partners, HYM, New England Development, Preotle Lane and Associates, QuakerLane Capital, RISE Together and the Davis Companies.

Each design included public parking areas, with some proposing work in both Wellington parcels. Others only eyed the priority parcel east of the rail line. Designs also varied in scope and detail, with some providing specific estimates for a number of potential residential units and/or square feet of space. Other designs were less specific.

Of the proposals, Able Company envisioned a development in both Wellington parcels, including ground-floor retail uses, office space and residential units largely centered around a central garage.

The Davis Companies pitched a development largely consisting of three mixed-use buildings along the banks of the Malden River in the east parcel. The Davis Companies envisioned between 124,050 and 134,250 square-feet of residential space with between 130 and 141 potential units.

Greystar proposed an entirely residential development with anywhere from 1,200 to 1,450 units across three distinct buildings.

HYM shared a vision for a mix of commercial, retail, residential and open space amenities.

New England Development drew up a proposal for its own project with residential and retail space alongside life-science office/lab space, a boathouse, a marina, a hotel and open space. Two parking garages could include 2,330 spaces coinciding with between 280 and 330 residential units.

Preotle, Lane & Associates proposed residential, office, retail hotel and open space uses, with 380 total residential units. Preotle, Lane & Associates’ proposal focused on a “phase one” plan for the priority east parcel, leaving the west parcel open for a future “phase two” project.

Quaker Lane pitched high- and low-rise residential, commercial and retail space.

Rise envisioned multiple clusters of residential, hospitality and open space areas flanking core T facilities.

Medford has been working with real estate firm Cushman and Wakefield on its request for information and its review of responses.

Officials last week said concept designs will inform a future request for proposals that the city will issue. Proposals at that stage could come back with more detailed views on Wellington projects.

See full proposals released last week from the request for information stage of Wellington air rights redevelopment here.

Anyone with questions or comments can reach out to the Medford Office of Planning, Development and Sustainability by phone at (781) 393-2480 or by email at econdev@medford-ma.gov.