Developers unveil initial plans for a massive project at former ExxonMobil site in Everett

Developers are planning a massive mixed-use project to take over the former ExxonMobil tank farm in Everett, paving the way for a transformation in the city north of Boston.

Dubbed the “Docklands,” the development will include an energy storage facility in its first phase and the construction of manufacturing, lab, office, retail, maker, and residential space in the second phase.

The developers behind the project, Everett Landco, a joint venture led by The Davis Companies, filed their first report with the state, the Expanded Environmental Notification Form (EENF), with the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) office at the end of August. 

“The multi-year remediation of this site is underway, and we continue to advance the planning that will transform this obsolete fuel storage facility into a vibrant mixed-use community,” the developers sent to Boston.com in a statement. “We look forward to continuing dialogue and collaboration with the Commonwealth, the City of Everett, and community stakeholders in the months ahead.”

How did we get here?

The company presented preliminary plans for the project to the Everett City Council in 2022 before efforts stalled, and the developers pulled out of the deal. 

Although it was unclear why the developers initially stalled the project, The Boston Globe reported that even though the site is one of the largest properties to come onto the market in recent years, it is also heavily polluted from a century of petroleum use. 

The site was a petroleum products distribution and bulk storage terminal that operated between 1965 and 2022.

The Globe reported that the deal’s termination became public because of a lawsuit the Conservation Law Foundation filed against Exxon in 2016. 

The CLF claimed that Exxon didn’t adequately prepare its property for extreme storms and flooding due to climate change. 

The CLF reached a settlement agreement with Exxon in December 2023. Under the agreement, the property can never be used to store petroleum products again. 

“Residents of Everett will soon be free of unhealthy and overpowering fumes and the risk that a major storm inundating the facility will mean oil and toxic chemicals fouling their streets and basements – as well as the entire Boston Harbor ecosystem – when the next storm hits,” the CLF said in a statement following the settlement. 

In May, the attorney general entered a Brownfields Covenant Not to Sue Agreement with the developers to provide liability protection in exchange for their commitment to clean up, remediate, and redevelop the property. 

According to Banker & Tradesman, The Davis Companies bought the 102-year-old fuel storage facility from ExxonMobil in December for $72.5 million. The company estimates it will spend $100 million to remediate the site, some of which will come from state grants. 

Now, after securing a deal with ExxonMobil again, the project is back on track. 

What the project will entail

The property is bounded by active and former railways and industrial developments. Nearby uses include the former Mystic Generating substation, Encore Boston Harbor, the Gateway Center shopping area, and the New England Produce Center. 

According to the state filing, the developers have already secured their first tenant for the property, Jupiter Power. The Texas-based company will develop a 20-acre, $500 million, 700-megawatt battery energy storage facility. 

The developers say that the energy storage system will strengthen the state’s power grid and assist in the clean energy transition, serving as a key connector for wind-generated power and other renewable energy sources. 

To proceed with the energy storage facility and meet ISO New England deadlines, the project needs a Phase 1 waiver. 

The second phase of the project includes building about 400,000 square feet of industrial space and high-tech manufacturing space, 3.3 million square feet of lab and office space, 240,000 square feet of retail space, 36,000 square feet of maker space, and 2.8 million square feet of residential space, which is about 3,200 residential units, with ancillary roadways, parking, and open space. 

What are the next steps?

The developers are in front of the City of Everett Planning Board to pass two zoning amendments. 

Matt Lattanzi, the city’s director of planning and development, wrote to Boston.com that the Section 36 zoning amendment grants the ability to review a series of projects under a Master Plan Special Permit. So far, in Everett, the developments before the planning board have consisted of single parcels of land being permitted for a single primary use. 

If passed, special permits would persist throughout the city, not just at this development. 

Section 37 is a comprehensive zoning section and regulations within the new Everett Docklands Innovation District, which comprises the land owned by The Davis Companies. 

Lattanzi said the Planning Board’s reception to both zoning amendments has been positive. The board already rendered a favorable recommendation for Section 36 but asked for additional time to review Section 37. 

“Overall, I believe that the Planning Board is excited to see this express interest in redeveloping the ExxonMobil site, but they also understand the importance of setting the relevant Zoning for the district,” Lattanzi wrote. 

The Planning Board is meeting again on Thursday, Sept. 5, to discuss the zoning. The matter will then pass to the City Council for amendments and passage before landing on the mayor’s desk for final approval. 

“There is still a good deal of discussion and review for the Zoning items,” Lattanzi wrote.