Third Courthouse Opens In Woburn

Press release from Cummings Properties

WOBURN, MA — With the November 9 opening of Middlesex County Probate and Family Court’s new location, Woburn is now home to three courthouses. Some have dubbed Woburn “Courthouse City,” while others say it has become the county seat.

The facility moved from its longtime home in Cambridge to 10 Commerce Way, which is managed by Cummings Properties. The relocation was welcomed by many employees, attorneys, and clients, who have long endured Cambridge’s scarce and expensive parking, as well as the aged condition of the court’s former building.

The state-of-the-art new 50,000-square-foot court was constructed by Cummings.

“In addition to being a true jewel, this site will serve as a convenient and highly accessible hall of justice,” said Ernest Agresti, vice president - administration at Cummings.

According to Agresti, the Commonwealth has a 10-year lease on the new edifice, located directly behind Woburn Village lifestyle center, formerly Woburn Mall, and the new Avalon apartments.

Situated at the junction of I-95 and I-93, the Commerce Way corridor is home to a major tech and life sciences cluster. Court staff and visitors will have access to the nearby MBTA commuter rail service at nearby Mishawum Station and Anderson Regional Transportation Center.

The court is following in the footsteps of Middlesex County Superior Court, which has been seated in Woburn, at the TradeCenter 128 campus, since it moved from Cambridge’s Edward J. Sullivan Courthouse in 2008. Both new courts are leased from Cummings Properties. Woburn is also home to a district court, located at 30 Pleasant Street.

“The Commonwealth’s relocation of these significant civic facilities speaks to how central Woburn is within Middlesex County and how accessible it is for residents and all other constituents,” said Cummings Properties chairman and CEO Dennis Clarke. “These factors are equally important to businesses, which is why Woburn has enjoyed such a robust commercial sector for a couple hundred years.”

“There can be great cost efficiencies to putting certain government entities in leased space, and I applaud the Commonwealth for considering alternatives to a costly building modernization project,” said Woburn Mayor Scott Galvin. “In addition, privately owned facilities pay full real estate taxes to their host cities whereas public facilities do not.”

Among the facility’s green features are LED lighting, a high-efficiency HVAC system, and a bioretention storage area, which protects the adjacent conservation area by removing contaminants and sedimentation from stormwater runoff.

Cummings Properties participated in a bid process through the Commonwealth’s Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance (DCAMM) to secure the lease. The 50-year-old Woburn firm is familiar with the bid process and with accommodating the unique needs of government leases. In addition to the two courts, Cummings reportedly provides space for multiple other state or federal entities, including Department of Revenue, Environmental Protection Agency, Massachusetts Lottery, and U.S. Department of Transportation.

This press release was produced by Cummings Properties. The views expressed are the author's own.