The Somerville City Council last week approved rezoning a 7.4-acre plot of industrial space that will allow developer Rafi Properties to create a 1.6 million-square-foot “tough tech” campus.
Tough tech companies combine science and engineering and often rely on heavy physical infrastructure. The new zoning would also accommodate climate tech companies, which make more energy-efficient products — creating carbon-free fusion power or decarbonizing concrete, for example.
The so-called Somernova site is home to an existing tenant mix ranging from Aeronaut Brewing and a rock-climbing gym called The Bouldering Project to a pair of tough- and climate-tech incubators, The Engine by MIT and Greentown Labs. The approved rezoning paves the way for Rafi Properties to pursue a four-building project along Properzi Way and Park, Dane, and Tyler streets, with research and development space, office, 100 units of housing, and arts space.
The successful rezoning follows two prior proposals to develop around 2 million square feet at the site, with buildings up to 16 stories tall. Those proposals proved unpopular with the community, and Rafi in February 2024 withdrew the plans.
“This is the soul of Somerville, right?” said Ben Ewen-Campen, a Somerville City Councilor, at a committee meeting in June. “I’ve had very meaningful conversations with people who are worried about just an onslaught of high value, large, snazzy developments… increasing the threat of displacement, kind of changing the nature of our community.”’