815 Somerville Ave
Multifamily Development Site l Porter Square, Cambridge, MA
Marketing description
Cushman & Wakefield’s Multifamily Advisory Group is pleased to present the opportunity to acquire 815 Somerville Avenue, an exceptional redevelopment opportunity located in the heart of Porter Square, Cambridge, Massachusetts. 815 Somerville Ave is a three-story brick building comprised of 27,824 gross square feet and 18 garage parking spaces. The building is situated on a 10,442 square foot parcel and sits within the Massachusetts Avenue District – a new zoning district that allows up to 12 stories of residential use by-right.
The property is located across the street from the MBTA Porter Square Station (Red Line), providing direct access to Harvard, MIT, Kendall Square and Downtown Boston within minutes. Porter Square is a vibrant, culturally diverse neighborhood known for its lively mix of unique shops and eclectic food scene (from budget-friendly to ethnic), as well as major retail with Star Market, Target, Tags Hardware and CVS, among others. The square blends urban energy with local charm, featuring public art, walkable areas, and a strong connection to Lesley University, creating an authentic, bustling hub for students, professionals, and residents.
Exceptionally located and surrounded by amenities, cultural activities and demand drivers, 815 Somerville Ave presents investors with a multitude of alternative use and value-creation opportunities, including ground up redevelopment for residential use (apartments or condominiums), re-tenanting the existing office space, or utilizing the in-place approvals (recently obtained by the ownership) to retrofit the building for laboratory/R&D tenancy. In addition, the property represents a rare purchase opportunity for an end-user/tenant (office or life science) seeking to reap the significant benefits of ownership. 815 Somerville Ave is a unique asset and investment opportunity that is available immediately for occupancy or redevelopment.
Investment highlights
Exceptional Porter Square Location
815 Somerville enjoys prominent positioning on the main thoroughfare of Porter Square, a vibrant neighborhood in Cambridge and Somerville, Massachusetts. The area is known for its MBTA Red Line station and Commuter Rail stop, diverse shops (like Porter Square Books and Star Market), restaurants, and mix of students and residents, offering a lively, authentic, and accessible hub along Massachusetts Avenue. 815 Somerville is steps away from the Porter MBTA stop and a four-minute walk from Star Market as well as several other area amenities.
High Density Zoning
815 Somerville Ave is located in the Massachusetts Avenue District, which allows for residential building height of up to 12 stories. The property represents an excellent, allowed by right, 6 to 12 story ground up apartment or condominium development opportunity in the heart of Cambridge.
Fully Approved Lab Conversion
815 Somerville currently has approvals to convert the existing three (3) story commercial structure for life science occupancy.
Transit Oriented
815 Somerville offers unmatched transit accessibility (subway, bus, car, and bike), walkability, and convenience. Subway service (MBTA Red Line and Commuter Rail) is available steps from the Property via Porter Station. The property is also located along several MBTA bus routes, providing seamless transportation throughout Cambridge, Somerville, and Downtown Boston.
User-Occupant Purchase Opportunity
815 Somerville offers a compelling opportunity for an owner-user to acquire a well-located office building in one of Greater Boston’s most supply-constrained and prestigious office markets. Cambridge’s proximity to world-class universities, life science clusters, and innovation-driven employers makes owner-occupied office assets particularly scarce and highly sought after.
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