Matters ▸ Attachment
Union Square D2 Plaza Civic Space Conveyance, Easement and Maintenance Agreement — File 24-0541
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CONVEYANCE AND EASEMENT AGREEMENT
This CONVEYANCE AND MAINTENANCE EASEMENT (this “Agreement”) is entered into
as of the ___ day of April, 2024 (the “Effective Date”) by and between UNION SQUARE RELP
D2.2 OWNER LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, with an address at c/o Union Square
Station Associates LLC, 10 Prospect Street, Somerville, Massachusetts 02143 (“Adjacent Property
Owner”), and the CITY OF SOMERVILLE, a Massachusetts body corporate and politic and
political subdivision of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, with an address at 93 Highland
Avenue, Somerville, MA 02143 (the “City”). Adjacent Property Owner and the City are each
referred to herein as a “Party” and collectively as the “Parties”.
WITNESSETH:
A. Reference is hereby made to (i) that certain Coordinated Development Special Permit in
Case PB2017-21 issued by the Planning Board of the City of Somerville on December 14,
2017, recorded with the Middlesex South District Registry of Deeds (the “Registry”) in
Book 70602, Page 1 (as the same may be amended from time to time, the “CDSP”); (ii)
that certain Planning Board Decision regarding Design & Site Plan Review in Case PB
2019-05, dated August 22, 2019, recorded with the Registry in Book 75482, Page 158 (as
the same may be amended from time to time, the “DSPR Decision”); (iii) that certain
Development Covenant recorded with the Registry in Book 76588, Page 161 (as the same
may be amended from time to time, the “Development Covenant”) (the CDSP, DSPR
Decision and Development Covenant are collectively the “Project Approvals”), and (iv)
that certain Conveyance and Easement Agreement by and between the Massachusetts Bay
Transportation Authority (“MBTA”) and Adjacent Property Owner, dated December 22,
2021 and recorded with the Registry at Book 79511, Page 1 (as the same may be amended
from time to time, the “MBTA Easement”.
B. Adjacent Property Owner owns certain real property located at 20-50 Prospect Street,
Somerville, Massachusetts, including the real property as more particularly described on
Exhibit A-1 as Lot 2A attached hereto and incorporated by reference (“Lot 2A” or the
This space for recorder’s use only
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“Conveyance Property”), and the real property as more particularly described on Exhibit
A-2 attached hereto and incorporated by reference (the “Adjacent Owner Property”),
C. The Conveyance Property has been developed as a Civic Space in accordance with the
Project Approvals and the MBTA Easement and is a portion of the Union Square
Revitalization project, a larger mixed-use master planned project being developed in Union
Square.
D. Per the Project Approvals, Adjacent Property Owner has created and is required to maintain
the Civic Space in perpetuity as a publicly accessible civic space on the Property.
E. Per the Project Approvals, Adjacent Property Owner and the City desire to enter into this
Agreement in order for Adjacent Property Owner to convey fee title to the Conveyance
Property to the City subject to the reservation of certain rights and easements, and to
facilitate Adjacent Property Owner’s maintenance responsibilities in connection therewith,
all as more specifically set forth herein.
F. Pursuant to a vote by the City Council of Somerville attached hereto as Exhibit C, the City
has accepted the conveyance of Lot 2A and approved this Agreement providing for
Adjacent Property Owner to program, maintain and repair the improvements located on
Lot 2A (the “Civic Space”).
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of One Dollar and other good and valuable consideration,
the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, Adjacent Property Owner and the
City agree as follows:
1. Conveyance of Property. Adjacent Property Owner does hereby give, grant, bargain, and
convey to the City, its successors and assigns, in fee, all of Adjacent Property Owner’s
right, title and interest in the Conveyance Property, together with all improvements thereon
and an assignment of all construction and equipment warranties to the extent assignable,
subject to all encumbrances of record, including without limitation the MBTA Easement,
and subject to the Easement (as defined below), in accordance with this Agreement ,
including the following terms and conditions:
a. Use of the Conveyance Property. The Conveyance Property shall be used by the
City solely as public civic space in accordance with the Project Approvals and the
MBTA Easement, for the public to gather, pass, and repass, and the City and
Adjacent Property Owner shall have the right to program and use the Civic Space
subject to the Adjacent Property Owner’s receipt of applicable licenses or permits.
Additionally, Adjacent Property Owner may use applicable portions of the Civic
Space as outdoor space accessory to adjacent retail uses as determined by Adjacent
Property Owner, or its designee, subject to receipt of applicable licenses or permits.
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b. Reservation of Easement. Adjacent Property Owner does hereby reserve a non-
exclusive perpetual right and easement (the “Easement”) as set forth in Section 2
below.
2. Reserved Easement. Adjacent Property Owner hereby reserves, for itself, its successors,
grantees and assigns, the non-exclusive, perpetual right and easement to operate, maintain,
program and repair the Civic Space, along with any and all utilities reasonably necessary
for the Civic Space, including through provision of planters, outdoor seating and furniture,
use of space for and accessory to adjacent restaurant and retail uses, art installations and
holiday decorations, and for special events and activities, subject to receipt of required
approvals, provided that the same shall be, to the extent reasonably practical, planned to
accommodate continuous beneficial use by the City and the public and including access by
Adjacent Property Owner or its designee to perform required maintenance, and to repair
and replace installations previously installed that are beyond their useful life, in each case
subject to receipt of any applicable licenses and/or permits, at Adjacent Property Owner’s
sole expense. For avoidance of doubt, it is also acknowledged and agreed that in no event
may the Adjacent Property Owner or the City modify the Civic Space or improvements
existing on the Civic Space, without the approval of the other Party and without having
first received all required licenses, permits or approvals.
3. Adjacent Property Owner’s Maintenance Responsibilities: The Adjacent Property Owner
shall maintain the Civic Space and improvements in accordance with the Project Approvals
and MBTA Easement and the with the landscape maintenance and management plan
referenced on Exhibit D, as the same may be updated by mutual written agreement of the
City and Adjacent Property Owner, from time to time, or modified or replaced subject to
receipt of required approvals of the City, and in any event in a good condition meeting
City standards for comparable civic spaces located within and maintained by the City, it
being acknowledged that Adjacent Property Owner may, with prior notice to the City and
any applicable permits and approvals, close portions of the Property on a temporary basis
as reasonably required from time to time for maintenance, repair and replacement of
improvements thereto.. Adjacent Property Owner shall (and/or shall cause any
contractor(s)) responsible for performing any work in, on or under the Property) to perform
all such work in a good and workmanlike manner in accordance with all applicable federal,
state and local laws, rules, regulations and ordinances.
4. Insurance. Adjacent Property Owner shall (and/or shall cause any contractor(s) responsible
for performing any work in, on or under the Property) (i) carry the types of insurance as
would be carried by a reasonably prudent owner of commercial real property provided that
said insurance shall be no less than the minimum amounts and types required by the City
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and set forth on Exhibit B; and (ii) upon written request of the City, deliver a certificate
evidencing the insurance required hereunder and naming the City as an additional insured.
5. No Third-Party Beneficiaries: None of the duties and obligations of Adjacent Property
Owner and the City under this Agreement shall in any way be construed as to create any
liability for the Adjacent Property Owner or the City with respect to third parties who are
not parties to this Agreement.
6. Notices. All notices required or permitted hereunder shall be in writing and shall be
deemed duly given if (a) mailed by certified or registered mail, postage and registration
charges prepaid, on the third day after deposit in US Mail; (b) by overnight delivery service
with receipt, on the next business day after deposit with the delivery service; or (c) by hand
delivery on the day of actual receipt, to the parties at the addresses set forth below or to
such other address for a party as may be specified in a notice so given to the other party:
The City:
City of Somerville
Somerville City Hall
93 Highland Avenue
Somerville, MA 02143
Attention: Mayor
With a copy to:
City of Somerville
Somerville City Hall – Law Department
93 Highland Avenue
Somerville, MA 02143
Attention: City Solicitor
Adjacent Property
Owner:
Union Square RELP D2.2 Owner LLC
c/o Union Square Station Associates LLC
10 Prospect Street
Somerville, Massachusetts 02143
Attn: Greg Karczewski
With a copy to:
Union Square Station Associates LLC
c/o Magellan Development Group
225 N. Columbus Drive, Suite 100
Chicago, Illinois 60606
Attn: Kim Sharon
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And to:
Affinius Capital
9830 Colonnade Boulevard, Suite 600
San Antonio, Texas 78230
Attn: Carrington Brown
Email: [email removed]
And to:
DLA Piper LLP (US)
33 Arch Street, 26th Floor
Boston, Massachusetts 02110
Attn: Brian Hochleutner, Esq.
7. Recitals. The recitals set forth above are incorporated in and made a part of this Agreement.
8. Successors and Assigns. This Agreement and the rights and obligations of the Parties
hereunder shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Parties hereto, their
respective legal representatives, and the successors and assigns of the Parties, shall be
governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts and may not be modified or amended in any manner other than by a written
agreement signed by both Parties hereto. This Agreement and the easements granted
hereunder shall run with the land and inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Parties
and their successors and assigns. The City shall not assign its rights or obligations under
this Agreement, without Adjacent Property Owner’s prior written consent (which may be
granted or withheld in Adjacent Property Owner’s sole reasonable discretion), except to
the extent the City is concurrently assigning its rights and obligations to a successor entity
with responsibility for City of Somerville civic spaces. Adjacent Property Owner may
assign its rights and/or obligations in whole or in part to any affiliate of Adjacent Property
Owner or to any owner of the Adjacent Owner Property provided that Adjacent Property
Owner shall provide written notice to the City of any such assignment within fifteen (15)
business days of any such assignment.
9. Assignment. Upon fifteen (15) business days’ prior notice, given upon the transfer,
financing and/or refinancing of any portion of the Property and otherwise no more than
once a year, the City shall provide to Adjacent Property Owner, its purchaser or lender, as
the case may be, an estoppel certificate stating, to its actual knowledge: (a) whether the
City knows of any defaults under this Agreement , and, if so, the nature thereof; (b) whether
this Agreement has been assigned, modified or amended in any way and, if so, the nature
thereof; and (c) that this Agreement is in full force and effect as of the date of the estoppel
certificate.
10. No partner, member, shareholder, trustee, beneficiary, director, officer, manager or
employee of Adjacent Property Owner, or any partner of such parties, or any affiliate of
any Party hereto, shall have any personal liability under this Agreement. In the event any
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person obtains a judgment against Adjacent Property Owner in connection with this
Agreement, such person’s sole recourse shall be to the estate and interest of such party in
and to its property described herein.
11. If any term or provision of this Agreement or the application thereof to any persons or
circumstances shall, to any extent, be invalid or unenforceable, the remainder of this
Agreement or the application of such term or provision to persons or circumstances other
than those as to which it is held invalid or unenforceable shall not be affected thereby, and
each term and provision of this Agreement shall be valid and enforced to the fullest extent
permitted by law.
12. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be an original and
all of which counterparts taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.
[Remainder of page intentionally blank; signature page follows]
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EXECUTED as a sealed instrument as of the Effective Date.
ADJACENT PROPERTY OWNER:
UNION SQUARE RELP D2.2 LLC
By:
__________________________________
Name: Gregory Karczewski
Title: Authorized Signatory
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
)
COUNTY OF MIDDLESEX
)
ss.
)
On this ______ day of ______________, 2024, before me, the undersigned notary public,
personally appeared Greg Karczewski, the Authorized Signatory of UNION SQUARE RELP
D2.2 LLC proved to me through satisfactory evidence of identification, which was a [current
driver’s license] [a current U.S. passport] [my personal knowledge], to be the person whose
name is signed on the preceding instrument and acknowledged the foregoing instrument to be his
or her free act and deed and the free act and deed of Greg Karczewski, the Authorized Signatory
of UNION SQUARE RELP D2.2 LLC.
____________________________________
Notary Public
My Commission Expires:
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THE CITY:
THE CITY OF SOMERVILLE
By: ______________________________
Name: Katjana Ballantyne
Title: Mayor
Attest:
Approved as to form and legality:
By: ______________________________
Name: Cynthia Amara
Title: City Solicitor
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
)
COUNTY OF MIDDLESEX
)
ss.
)
On the ____ day of _______, 2024, before me, the undersigned notary public, Katjana
Ballantyne personally appeared, proved to me through satisfactory evidence of identification,
which was __________________________, to be the person whose name is signed on the
preceding document, and acknowledged to me that he signed it voluntarily in my presence as the
authorized signatory of The City of Somerville as the voluntary act of the company.
Notary Public
My Commission Expires:
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EXHIBIT A-1
LEGAL DESCRIPTION OF CONVEYANCE PROPERTY
That certain parcel of land in the City of Somerville, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, being
shown as Lot 2A on a plan entitled “Subdivision Plan of Land – Prospect Street at Somerville
Avenue” prepared by Design Consultants, Inc., dated November 23, 2020, and recorded in the
Middlesex South Registry of Deeds as Plan 881 of 2020
Being a portion of the premises conveyed to Union Square RELP D2.2 Owner LLC by the
Somerville Redevelopment Authority by deed dated February 22, 2021 and recorded at the
Middlesex South Registry of Deeds in Book 76638, Page 68.
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EXHIBIT A-2
LEGAL DESCRIPTION OF ADJACENT OWNER PROPERTY
That certain parcel of land in the City of Somerville, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, being
shown as Lots 1, 3 and 5 on a plan entitled “Subdivision Plan of Land – Prospect Street at
Somerville Avenue” prepared by Design Consultants, Inc., dated November 23, 2020, and
recorded in the Middlesex South Registry of Deeds as Plan 881 of 2020.
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EXHIBIT B
INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS
(a) Worker’s Compensation: Statutory coverage including employer’s liability with limits
of not less than $500,000 per accident, $500,000 each employee for occupational disease,
$500,000 policy limit for occupational disease.
(b) Automobile Liability: $1,000,000 combined single limit per accident on bodily injury
and property damage covering all owned, leased or hired vehicles used in performing the
scope of work.
(c) Comprehensive General Liability: At least $1,000,000 combined single limit per
occurrence on bodily injury, personal injury and property damage, $2,000,000 aggregate.
The policy shall include contractual liability and broad form property damage coverage.
The City and Adjacent Property Owner shall be named as an additional insured.
(d) Professional Liability: In amounts that are customary and reasonable for the type of
work to be performed.
EXHIBIT C
CERTIFICATE OF CITY COUNCIL VOTE
[see attached]
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EXHIBIT D
LANDSCAPE MANAGEMENT PLAN
D2 Civic Space Landscape Maintenance and Management Plan dated October 26, 2023