Tufts Recommended as Developer for Powder House School

An advisory committee has recommended that Tufts University be selected as the developer of the former Powder House School site near Teele Square, according to an announcement from the mayor's office.

Six developers submitted proposals for the site, at 1060 Broadway, responding to a request for proposals issued in December, 2012. A technical advisory committee consisting of neighbors, aldermen and members of the city's planning staff spent the spring and summer reviewing all the proposals.

The announcement, issued Wednesday, said Somerville Mayor Joseph Curtatone plans to accept the committee's recommendation. In doing so, he will begin discussions with Tufts to come to an agreement about the proposal, and then he will submit the proposal to the Somerville Board of Aldermen.

The university already owns an adjacent building, 167 Holland St., which is known as the Tufts Administration Building. According to the announcement, Tufts plans to combine the two properties into one parcel. It would upgrade the existing Tufts Administration Building, construct another administration building, with underground parking, at the site of the former school, and build a third structure that will house "unaffiliated" residential units.

Richard Shortt, a neighbor and chair of the advisory committee, stated in the announcement that Tufts' proposal "provides more than double the open space hoped for." The university plans to build "significantly more open space than other proposals in addition to an expansion of current open space," the announcement says.

The request for proposals stipulated that at least 40 percent of the Powder House School parcel remain public open space.

Tufts' proposal was the only one to add office workers to the Teele Square area during the day, the announcement says. Some believe more office workers would bring more daytime activity and business to the area.

Tufts would pay full property taxes on the buildings they plan to develop, the announcement says.

It says the request for proposals was issued after a two-year public visioning process.

More on the Powder House School

• Decision Coming Soon on Powder House School Developer
• What Developers Want to Build at the Powder House School
• 16 People Who Will Influence Powder House School Redevelopment
• Six Developers Submit Powder House School Proposals
• City Officially Seeks Buyers for Powder House School Near Teele Square
• City to 'Test the Waters' With Powder House School This Fall