Article 29 - Feasibility of Acquiring 2229 Main Street (NMI Starmet Site)

ARTICLE 29. To determine whether the Town will raise and appropriate or transfer from available funds a sum to be expended under the direction of the Town Manager, for the purpose of evaluating the feasibility of acquiring the property located at 2229 Main Street, Concord, MA; or take any other action relative thereto.

Article Explanation

This article seeks funding to evaluate the feasibility of the Town acquiring 2229 Main Street, the former NMI/Starmet site. The Town has been considering the feasibility of acquiring the site for ten years, beginning in 2015 when a Special Town Meeting vote authorized the Select Board to acquire or take by eminent domain the property, subject to terms and conditions agreeable to the Select Board.  Since then: four parties (2 corporations and 2 US Government agencies) entered into a Consent Decree to take responsibility for and to fund environmental clean-up at the site; two Town committees issued reports (in 2021 and 2024) with recommendations on reuse and development of the site by the Town; and the 2229 Main Street Oversight Committee has followed closely the progress of site clean-up since 2003. This year, following the 2229 Main Street Advisory Task Force recommendation that the Town move forward toward acquisition of the site, the Select Board voted to send a letter to U.S. EPA and U.S. Department of Justice conveying the Town’s interest in entering into discussions to acquire the site. Funding is necessary in order to formally evaluate the feasibility of site acquisition.   

Article Motion

No motion anticipated.