The Five Mass. Real Estate Stories You Missed in Summer 2026
From rent control to suburban mega-developments, here are the seven biggest stories that happened in Massachusetts real estate in summer 2026 since Memorial Day.
Developer Expands Somerville Proposal to 418 Apartments
The lone developer still seeking to redevelop a city-owned property boosted the size of the project to 418 apartments while eliminating a controversial parking configuration.
No Appetite for a ‘Texas Doughnut’ in East Somerville
It’s back to the design drawing board for at least one of the proposed redevelopers of a key parcel of city land in Somervile’s Inner Belt neighborhood.
Zombie Lab Sites Seek Revival as Housing
Developers warn that sites could remain stagnant for years, and that housing would provide a net fiscal benefit, while local officials fret about jobs and commercial tax revenues.
Cities Prod Landlords with Vacant Storefronts
Boston’s angling to be the latest city to try and spur more action from retail landlords with long-term vacancies. Here’s what’s worked elsewhere.
A Beacon Cuts Through the Housing Crisis
As a former Star Market property sat vacant in Somerville and financial hurdles delayed redevelopment, Beacon Communities stepped in under CEO Dara Kovel.
Hot Property: 24 Webster Ave.
Nonprofit Just a Start will demolish a vacant commercial building in Somerville’s Union Square and construct 43 deeply affordable apartments in a 6-story building after completing its project financing.
TransMedics Leases Assembly Innovation Park Lab Tower
An Andover-based organ transplant company leased a vacant lab tower in Somerville and acquired adjacent properties for $30 million.
Facing $39M Bill, Somerville to Sell Public Safety Site for Housing
Somerville Mayor Katjana Ballantyne abandoned a plan to develop a new public safety complex outside Union Square after the city lost a legal battle over an eminent domain taking of the 90 Washington St. property.
Parking Minimums Topple in Somerville
Somerville will now be the second city in...
Somerville Climate-Capture Strategy Hits Bumps
Somerville officials and one of its key commercial landlords wanted to stem the exodus of clean energy startups with a big, new development. But the presidential election and market realities are threatening that vision.
Somerville Skipped Over for Fossil Fuel Ban Pilot
State officials have picked Northampton to round out its fossil fuel-free building pilot program, skipping over an application from Somerville officials.
Court Rules Somerville Underpaid, Owes $30M on Inner Belt Property
The Massachusetts Appeals Court ruled in favor of a developer that challenged an eminent domain taking of its property for a new Somerville public safety complex, awarding $30 million for the acquisition.
State Leaders Celebrate Without a Victory
If political happy talk could be converted into housing units, the cost of a home wouldn’t be nearing $1 million in Greater Boston. But it’s a reality our state and local pols seem incapable of grasping.
Somernova Returns with Housing, Arts Space in 1.6M SF Plan
Developer Rafi Properties is back with a new proposal for a tech campus near Somerville’s Union Square, reducing building heights and parking while seeking to prevent displacement of the cultural economy.
Brickbottom Lab Project Lures New Kendall Square Institute
A developer’s speculative bet on Somerville’s Brickbottom as a new life science industry cluster gained momentum with a 76,000-square-foot lease to Cambridge-based ADA Forsyth Institute.
Union Square Developer Pauses 1.6M SF Green R&D Project
At neighborhood meetings last fall, residents objected to Rafi Properties’ proposed building heights of up to 245 feet, plans for 1,252 parking spaces and loss of arts and cultural space.
A Missing Piece of Housing Plan?
Advocates say Gov. Maura Healey’s housing plan is missing opportunity to expand a model that’s shown a track record of success in Boston and across the U.S. for decades: community land trusts.
A Retail Tenant Bill of Rights?
Somerville is preparing to tackle lingering retail storefront vacancies and the displacement of local businesses that threaten to sap vibrancy from its commercial districts even as a sizable development pipeline is poised to bring a boost in foot traffic to prominent squares.
Hot Property: Station Plaza
A Somerville landscape architect designed the first of a dozen public spaces that will be located within the 20-acre USQ project.
