By a 4-1 vote, the Arlington Redevelopment Board (ARB) has chosen Upton & Partners as the preferred developer of the former Symmes Hospital site.

The ARB holds a land disposition agreement on the Symmes project. The vote signals the next step toward developing the property and is aligned with support already given to Upton & Partners by the Board of Selectmen and neighborhood groups, such as the Symmes Neighborhood Advisory Committee.

"I’m pleased to see this project moving forward," said Arlington Town Manager Brian Sullivan. "Upton has a proposal that best fits the needs of the town, the financial wherewithal to develop it, support of the neighborhood and a sterling reputation as developers that instill confidence that what is built on that site will be close to, or better than what was originally intended."

Upton & Partners were one of four developers vying to take over the project from JPI who defaulted after the financial crisis of 2008, subsequently stalling this project. Upton & Partners rose above the current pack of redevelopers as their proposal offered assisted living facilities and condominiums, had support from the neighborhood and its solid reputation as developers in the area, according to a statement.