Framingham City Council Votes 10-0 to Seize Downtown Parcel for Parking Garage

FRAMINGHAM -- April 21, 2026, Framingham City Council votes 10-0 to seize Franklin Street parcel for downtown parking garage. The council approved an order of taking by eminent domain for approximately 1.165 acres at 97 Franklin Street, awarding damages of $2,712,500 to owner SB5 Holdings, LLC, to be paid through a city bond; the state is expected to contribute $10.5 million for design and construction. In the same meeting, the council unanimously approved $3,533,500 in Community Preservation Act funding for 13 projects, including $600,000 for affordable ADA-accessible units at Carlson Crossing East and $500,000 toward an agricultural preservation restriction on roughly 100 acres at Eastley Farm. A continued public hearing on Eagle Rock Advisors' request to rezone a 30-acre parcel off Route 9 for mixed-use development was pushed to June 16 after council members and the applicant remained divided on whether units should be rental or ownership and on affordability levels above the city's 13 percent inclusionary zoning floor. Police Chief Baker, briefing the council on the city's decision not to host a FIFA World Cup watch party, described state security assets as stretched across the equivalent of "seven Super Bowls" from June 1 through July 10.