The DPW building is situated on a 9.6-acre site in the heart of Lexington on Bedford Street a quarter mile from Routes 4 and 128. "The building was in such poor shape," Kelly Zeoli, a management analyst in the DPW, tells GlobeSt.com. "We knew we needed to renovate or get a new building and that was the catalyst."

Zeoli notes that the town's selectmen realized that the building was on prime real estate and formed a citizen's committee to look at its potential uses. It was decided that the DPW could move to a former landfill site on Hartwell Avenue. The committee put out a request for information from developers, which is a non-binding request for development proposals for the current DPW site. "We wanted to get ideas from developers about what could go on the site," notes Zeoli. Fourteen developers responded and among the ideas were housing, a retail and mixed-use development.

Zeoli points out that none of the proposals included office space, which is not surprising considering that Lexington's overall available space has jumped to 22.3% according to Trammel Crow Co., up from 14.1% a year before. Zeoli adds that area residents have made it clear that their preference is for a residential development.

The committee will be taking the plans to a Town Meeting, where the town will vote on the property sale. A formal request for proposal process will also be put out in which all developers could reapply. Zeoli points out that any housing project will be required to include an affordable housing component. Lexington does not yet have its required 10% affordable housing which leaves it vulnerable to developers who want to build residential projects under the state's affordable housing law.