In December 2025, the City Council requested that the City-owned 25 Lowell Street property be evaluated in reference to the Disposition Ordinance. The Disposition Ordinance outlines the process required to transfer the rights of City property either through sale or lease.
The Capital Building Projects Department and the City Manager’s Office are leading this effort.
25 Lowell Street is a City-owned property, originally built in 1883. The property has been leased to the New School of Music since 1980, and is currently occupied by the New School and Cambridge Art Association. The original lease expired in 1990 and now operates on a tenancy at will basis.
Meeting Recap
Thank you to all that joined our community meeting and provided feedback to the project team.
If you missed the meeting, our presentation and recap are available online.
The disposition report is currently being drafted and will go through the Planning Board, City Manager, and City Council over the next few months. Sign up for our newsletter to receive project updates and information about upcoming meetings.
Community Meeting 10/22 at 6pm
The City will be hosting an in-person community meeting to discuss the future of the 25 Lowell Street property on Thursday, October 22, 2026 at 6pm at the New School of Music, 25 Lowell Street.
In December 2025, the City Council requested that the City-owned 25 Lowell Street property be evaluated in reference to the Disposition Ordinance.
Representatives from the Capital Building Projects Department and the City Manager’s Office will share information about the ordinance, the anticipated project schedule, and potential uses for the building. Residents are encouraged to attend the meeting to learn more from the project team and ask questions.
The Disposition Ordinance outlines the process required to transfer the rights of City property either through sale or lease. This process ensures that City property can best serve our community, that fair market value is received for private use of City property, and that property is used without favoritism.
The City must take the following steps, as outlined in the ordinance:
- Preparation of a report evaluating alternative uses for the property, including info on:
- A fair analysis of how the greatest public benefit can be obtained from the property
- A community meeting
- Financial impact of each alternative
- Existing zoning status of the property
- Development potential of the property
- Description of any development plans
- Recommended financial arrangements
- Planning Board Hearing on the report.
- Recommendations by both the City Manager and Planning Board to the City Council for the lease or sale of the property, in response to the report.
- City Council public hearing and vote to allow the disposition of the property.
- A procurement process, pursuant to G.L. c.30B, which requires an open and fair competition where the City would establish the value of the property, the criteria and terms of a sale, then accept and evaluate bids, and award the contract for the property.
The report is in progress. Alternative uses under evaluation in the report include: develop affordable housing, sell to outside organization, or maintain City ownership and lease to outside organization.