East Cambridge Courthouse Gets a Makeover, Maybe?

I'm going to stray just a bit outside of the city today and talk a little bit about a new development in East Cambridge. The Edward J. Sullivan Courthouse is no longer in use, and thus is sitting upon some valuable real estate that developers are practically drooling over. Currently three developers/investment firms have submitted plans to the city, DivcoWest, Legatt McCall, and HYM. Although little is known about the plans Legatt McCall submitted, DivcoWest and HYM seem to have big ideas for the 22-story court house.

DivcoWest has even released renderings of the imagined new building, which appears to have a fairly modern and sleek exterior. Apartments have been a consideration, as the city and the neighborhood would love to offer more housing, and affordable housing at that. Beyond this the plans anticipate 460,000 square feet of office space, and 30,000 square feet of retail space under DivcoWest.

HYM's plans are far more drastic in terms of a transformation, as they hope to strip the entire building down to the steel skeleton and start all over with an emphasis on a glass exterior. This plans includes 50 apartments, removing the top three floors of the building, a town plaza with outdoor seating, some retail space, and an excess of office space, 40,000 square feet to be more exact.

There's no doubt that Legatt McCall has something big up their sleeve too, but now we must wait in anticipation to learn which plan will be selected and to watch the new building come to life.