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The City of Somerville and the Somerville Redevelopment Authority (SRA) have released a Request for Proposals for an experienced development team to lead the private redevelopment of 90 Washington St. The nearly four-acre site is described as one of the largest remaining transit-proximate redevelopment opportunities in Somerville, a suburb of Boston. City officials are seeking a partner to deliver a dense mixed-use project that combines new housing with active ground-floor commercial uses and publicly accessible open space.
The RFP calls for a team that can respond to the site’s transit-accessible location with a comprehensive plan that supports both residential and commercial activity. The city’s objectives include adding housing supply, activating the street level with commercial tenants, and integrating open spaces that are available to the public. While no specific unit counts or commercial square footages are outlined in the source material, the guidance emphasizes a high-intensity program and a mix of uses.
The SRA originally acquired the 90 Washington St. parcel through eminent domain in 2019 for $8.8 million. At that time, the city’s concept envisioned a public safety facility on the site, paired with complementary private development. Subsequent litigation over the taking led to a court decision that reset the property’s value at $35.3 million plus interest, significantly increasing the valuation associated with the land.
Following that ruling, the city reassessed its approach. In January 2025, Somerville shifted strategy and opted to offer the entire parcel for private redevelopment rather than anchoring the site with a municipal public safety complex. That policy change cleared the way for the current RFP, which now positions 90 Washington St. as a fully private, mixed-use redevelopment opportunity guided by city objectives for land use, density, and public realm improvements.
The property is currently zoned for civic use, and the city acknowledges that zoning changes will be necessary to realize the mixed-use vision described in the RFP. Somerville has indicated it will work with the selected development team to pursue the required rezoning, aligning local land-use regulations with the desired combination of housing, commercial space, and open space.
Responses to the RFP are due by April 10. The SRA plans to evaluate proposals and intends to select a development partner by July 13. The process is expected to determine not only the development team but also a preferred concept for repositioning one of Somerville’s remaining large, transit-accessible infill sites as a privately led, mixed-use destination.
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