A years-long legal dispute over the land for Revere’s new high school is moving toward its conclusion.

The Revere City Council voted on October 26 to authorize $16.5 million in borrowing to finance a settlement involving the former Wonderland Greyhound Park property.

The site is already being transformed into a new high school campus. The latest vote addresses a financial issue that has followed the project since the city acquired the property through eminent domain.

For Revere residents, the decision removes uncertainty surrounding the amount the city must pay for the land while construction continues.

How the Wonderland Dispute Started

Revere acquired the former greyhound racing property in 2022 for approximately $29 million.

The acquisition was made through eminent domain, a legal process that allows governments to obtain private property for public purposes while providing compensation to the owner.

However, the former property owner disputed the amount paid.

The disagreement developed into litigation that lasted more than three years.

According to the City of Revere’s September announcement, the former owner had sought approximately $117 million.

Rather than proceed to trial, the parties negotiated an additional payment of $16.5 million.

The agreement brings the city’s stated total cost for acquiring the property to approximately $45.5 million.

The October council vote authorized the borrowing associated with that settlement.

Does This Increase the School’s Construction Budget?

The additional bond is significant, but it is important to distinguish the land settlement from the overall school construction budget.

The City Council previously approved approximately $493 million in borrowing for the new high school project.

Mayor Patrick Keefe told councilors that the project was still expected to come in below that original authorization, even after accounting for the settlement and approximately $900,000 in legal expenses.

As reported by the Revere Journal, Keefe explained that different bond authorizations must be tied to their designated purposes.

The city has also reported savings from construction bids that came in below earlier estimates.

State funding is helping offset the local cost. Revere’s FY2027 budget announcement identifies approximately $234 million in anticipated support from the Massachusetts School Building Authority.

That still leaves a substantial financial responsibility for Revere, making careful management of construction and borrowing costs important.

What the New School Will Include

The planned high school represents one of Revere’s largest public infrastructure investments.

The approximately 422,600-square-foot facility is designed to serve more than 2,450 students.

Plans include modern science laboratories, technology-equipped classrooms, collaborative learning areas, arts facilities and athletic spaces.

The campus is also designed with energy efficiency in mind.

According to the city’s groundbreaking announcement, the project incorporates plans for geothermal heating and cooling, improved insulation and other features intended to reduce energy consumption.

Its location near Wonderland Station will also connect the campus to an established transit area.

The exact opening date deserves caution. Earlier city announcements anticipated completion during the 2028–2029 school year, while more recent reporting has described a 2029 opening. An updated, confirmed schedule is needed before treating either date as final.

What Happens Next?

Construction continues at the Wonderland property.

The property settlement resolves a major legal disagreement, while the council’s bond authorization addresses how the city can finance the additional payment.

The decision does not mean the new school is complete or ready for students.

But it does remove one of the outstanding complications surrounding a project intended to serve generations of Revere students.

For residents watching both the school’s progress and its cost, the next important developments will be construction milestones, updated financial projections and a confirmed opening schedule.