Letter from Leggat McCall Properties regarding the proposed disposition of a leasehold interest in the First Street …

On September 28' the Supreme Judidai Court rejected the Plaintiff's request for further appellate review of the Appeals Court ruling. On November 29 the SJC denied the Plaintiffs Plea for Reconsideration of its September 28th ruling.

Prior to the issuance of the Special Permit/ in response to a City Coundi Order adopted on March 17, 2014 a Working Group containing neighborhood residents was formed which led to significant design changes to the original proposal, including removing the top two floors of the building/ modifying the facade design to tenracotta, and the creation of a landscaped area along Spring Street.

As set forth in its Special Permit application, Leggat McCali is seeking to acquire a long-term parking lease for 420 vehicles in the municipai garage on First Street as part of its redevelopment of the former Courthouse, In addition, Leggat McCall has agreed to enter into a Master Lease Agreement with the City to accept responsibility for developing, leasing, and managing the ground floor retail space within the first fioor of the garage fronting First Street, Now that all of the legal chalienges to the Special Permit have been resolved, Leggat McCalt is requesting that pursuant to the Order adopted by the City Council on October 7, 2013 declaring "420 parking spaces and the first floor retail space at the First Street Garage Property available for disposftten" and authorizing your office to Initiate a process to determine the vaiue of the ieasehotd interest, that you undertake the appropriate action pursuant to Chapter 308 of the Massachusetts Genera!

Laws and Chapter 2.110 of the Cambridge Municipal Code to determine the value of the leasehold interest. Thank you for your attention to this matter. Verytru!y ^ ? 6 )"•':•• Robert M. ' yours, . Dickey

Executive Vice President

l^gyt Md^ll I'-ropcrfits LLC; 10 I'usi Office .Sqimrc Hosron, MA 02109 617,422.7000 fax f)37.422.7002 mw.imp.com CITY COUNCIL, CAMBRIDGE MASSACHUSETTS Page 1 of 1

City of C ambridge Executive Department

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To the Honorable, the City Council:

In response to Awaiting Report Item Number 14-16, regarding a report regarding the status of the First Street Garage RFP process, please be advised of the following: As you know, the City Council voted on October 7, 2013 to declare a portion of the City-owned First Street Garage available for disposition by a long term lease of four hundred twenty (420) parking spaces and a portion of the ground floor retail space to Leggat McCaII in connection with their planned development of the former Edward J.

Sullivan Courthouse at 40 Thomdike Street, in order to satisfy Leggatt McCall's parking requirements and to secure a retail grocery store on the ground floor of the garage.

As I explained in my letter to you of October 7, 2013 (attached), the proposed action by the City Council to declare the property available for disposition by such a leasehold interest would initiate a process, lasting approximately six to eight months, during which the value of the property to be leased would be appraised; a format proposal would be solicited from the potential master lessee; and public hearings would be held to evaluate the proposal.

Please be advised that following the City Council's vote on this matter, there has been no further action as to this request by the City administration, and pursuant to the above-referenced Policy Order Resolution of March 17, 2014,1 will take no further action as to this proposed disposition until I receive further guidance from the City Council. Very truly yours, Richard C. Rossi RCR/mec Attachment http://www2.cambridgema.gov/cityClerk/cmLetterPrint.cfm?meetmgDate-03-24-2014&... 12/14/2017

Policy Order Resolution

0-13

AMENDED ORDER

Marchl7,20i4 WHEREAS: The Edward J. Sullivan Cowthouse is a 22-sfory tower located on 40 Thorndike Street that directly abuts the modest residential neighborhood of East

Cambridge; snd

WHEREAS: The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is in the process of abandoning the Courthouse building and disposing of it through the slate's Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance (DCAMM); and WHEREAS; Residents of East Cambridge, who have lived with this inappropriate and overwhelming structure for some forty years, have expressed a preference for a redevelopment project that would reduce the height and bulk of the existing structure; and

WHEREAS: On December 14, 2012, irrespective of neighborhood

concerns, DCAMM awarded redevelopment rights to Leggat-McCal] Properties based on the developer's proposal to maintain all ofth^ existing height and bulk and "reskin" the structure as a commercial office tower; and

WHEREAS: The E^st Cambridge Planning Team has a proud

reputation of working with developers to ensure that new development works positively for £he community; and WHEREAS: The Neighborhood Association of East Cambridge is a newiy-formed organization that is seeking recognition from the Community Development Department and has rallied community opposition to the developer's current plans; and

WHEREAS; On Wednesday evenmg» February 26,2014, the East

Cambridge Planning Team heard from the developer with regard to neighborhood concerns over wind, glare, and light poHution; and WHEREAS; After three hours of discussion and debate before a crowded audieiic&, the East Cambridge Planning Team voted to ask the Planning Board to reject the developer's Special Pennh: application ^288; and WHEREAS: The vote was recorded as unanimous among ail members present; and WHERBAS: On October 7, 2013, the City Council approved a Request for Proposal (RFP) process to facilitate the transfer ofcity-owned parking spaces at She First Street Garage to the developer in order to help satisfy tlw extensive parking requirements of the proposed ofTfce building: and WHEREAS; The disposition ofcity-owncd parking cannot proceed uniess the City Council, by a vote of two" thirds majority finds that the arrangements specified through the RFP process will lead to the greatest public benefit that can be obtained from the City property in question, pursuant to Chapter 2.110 of the

City of Cambridge Municipal Code; now therefore