Assembly Square Mixed-Use Development Project |
Summary: Transit-oriented mixed-use development in phases, starting with current big-box stores, continuing with IKEA development, and concluding with full buildout with office space and amenities.
Time Frame: 2 years to IKEA opening, 30 years to full buildout
Status:
- (10/20/11) Block 3 passed Planning Board.
- (10/5/11) Blocks 1 and 4 passed Planning Board.
History:
- (9/29/11) Blocks 1, 3, 4 in A.S. DIF area in front of Design Review Committee.
- (7/14/11) IKEA special permit extended for another year by Planning Board.
- (5/2/11) Assembly Square DIF bond issue passed.
- (3/31/11) Assembly Square DIF bond hearing scheduled.
- (10/30/10) There is talk of creating a District Improvement Financing program for Assembly Square, in addition to the iCubed program.
- (9/19/10) Discussions begin on connections to East Somerville via Foley Street near proposed SSG self-storage development.
- (9/16/10) Assembly Square Self-Storage Ordinance filed.
- (9/13/10) Public Hearing on Ch. 9 license.
- (9/2/10) Minor amendment to dedicate Assembly Square Drive to city.
- (7/15/10) Amendment to Assembly Square Master Plan applied for to bring in line with plan described in FEIR.
- (7/15/10) Ch. 91 license application being prepared for improvements in mixed-use portion of project adjacent to the Mystic.
- (7/15/10) Ch. 91 license application submitted for stormwater outfall.
- (6/9/10) Infrastructure improvements begun to upgrade streets and utilities in Assembly Square. IKEA development to not start until improvements complete.
- (3/25/10) FEIR comment period closed 3/23/10.
- (3/15/10) Final EIR issued. Comment period open until 3/23/10.
- As of 12/29/09, IKEA was due to begin construction in Spring 2010. When IKEA opens, the Transportation Mitigation Plan and the Sustainability Plan will both go into effect.
- Mass Highway plans presented. MassHighway changes comment period over August 3, 2009.
- Development plan decided upon.
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Monitor:
- Adequate R&D in Assembly Square to provide tax revenue and jobs.
- Quality of Foley Street connection under I-93.
- The Transportation Mitigation Plan required by the settlement has not been finalized.
- The Sustainability Plan required by the settlement has not been finalized.
- Integrating IKEA with the Assembly Square Orange Line T-Stop remains an issue.
- Urban design and site plan for 10 M s.f. Long Term Vision for Assembly Square
- Implications for transit-oriented mixed use development.
- Bicycle path past the IKEA in Assembly Square.
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Background:
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Risks:
- Poor transportation connections to Somerville that inhibit high-quality development.
- Opportunistic short-term proposals that obstruct better development.
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Mitigation:
- Monitor urban design of connections to Somerville.
- Monitor adherence to development plans through Assembly Square PAC and state and city permitting process.
- Analyze implications of opportunistic proposals and respond as necessary.
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Beacon Street Hotel Project |
Summary: Proposed hotel at the corner of Beacon Street and Oxford Street, next to the Red Line right of way.
Time Frame: 1-2 years
Status: Controversy developing over lack of contact information on permit applications.
History:
On the docket at the 12/31/09 meeting of the Zoning Board of Appeals. Was first before the Zoning Board 1/21/09, with Planning Board conditional approval. |
Monitor: This development is in a good place for transit-oriented development not only connecting to the Red Line, but also to a proposed Green Line extension from Union Square to Porter Square along the south side of Somerville. |
Background: This development replaces a defunct gas station at the corner of Beacon Street and Oxford Street. It was described as accessed via car on Beacon Street. Little emphasis was originally placed on access to the Porter Square Red Line or to use by Harvard visitors.
See:
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Risks: The development may move forward with car orientation. |
| Mitigation: Follow the development and advocate for transit orientation. |
Broadway Redevelopment Project |
Summary: Plan to upgrade Broadway with high-end office and retail uses.
Time Frame: 1-5 years
Status: Zoning in place.
History:
- (9/2/10) Change of use for Ocean State Job Lot project denied by Planning Board.
- (6/30/10) Ocean State Job Lot (299 Broadway) introductory meeting called, did not go well. Tenant requires change of use.
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Monitor:
- Possible Ocean State Job Lots tenancy at 299 Broadway.
- Transit and pedestrian orientation of new developments.
- Pedestrian access between new developments and Sullivan Square T-Stop.
- Traffic implications of new developments.
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Background:
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Risks:
- Opportunistic short-term proposals that obstruct better development.
- Inadequate connections with Sullivan Square T-Stop
- Overemphasis on car traffic.
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Mitigation:
- Advocate for integration with Sullivan Square T-Stop.
- Advocate for traffic calming as necessary in places where shops and pedestrian destinations exist.
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Combined Sewer Overflow Mitigation Project |
Summary: Ongoing environmental remediation program required by Federal Court due to pollution of Boston Harbor by sewage being dumped untreated into rivers during storms.
Time Frame: 1-5 years
Status: Infrastructure improvements along Somerville Avenue almost complete. |
Monitor:
- Improvements as part of Assembly Square development
- Improvements needed near Union Square and along Alewife Brook.
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Background:
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Risks:
- Hot spots may be missed.
- Solutions may be inadequate for new development proposals.
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Mitigation:
- Monitor stormwater at outflows.
- Evaluate proposed mitigation efforts in the light of development proposals.
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Davis Square Development Project |
Summary: Plans to improve Davis Square now that more rapid transit is coming into Somerville.
Time Frame:1-5 years
Status: Third public visioning meeting scheduled
Schedule: (6/2/10) Third Davis Square Visioning Meeting
History:
- (4/28/10) Second Davis Square Visioning Meeting
- (3/3/10) First Davis Square Visioning Meeting
- Increased new development, such as proposed hotel.
- Davis Square economy given big boost in early 1980s when Red Line extended there from Porter. Became "hip" city center by mid 1990s.
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Monitor:
- New developments, such as new hotel
- Orientation toward T stop.
- Sustainability and relationship with neighborhood.
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Background:
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Risks:
- Developments oversized for the neighborhood.
- Developments that interfere with neighborhood access to T.
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Mitigation:
- Examine plans
- Participate in meetings.
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Inner Belt / Brickbottom Development Project |
Summary: Mixed-use development associated with proposed Inner Belt / Brickbottom T-Stop.
Time Frame: 1-4 years
Status:
- (6 /25/11) Public meeting and walkabout scheduled in Inner Belt.
- (6/8/11) Public hearing on taxi facility in Inner Belt.
History:
- (3/27/11) MBTA maintenance facility placed at location L, as far as possible from Brickbottom
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Monitor:
- Transformational development
- Integration with mass transit.
- Neighborhood impact.
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Background:
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RIsks:
- MBTA maintenance facility may interfere with development.
- Unsustainable development proposals, such as soccer field.
- Loss of Inner Belt / Brickbottom Green Line T-Stop
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Mitigation:
- Continue advocacy for transit support through Community Corridor Planning process.
- Analyze implications of development proposals and respond as necessary.
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| MaxPac Redevelopment Project |
Summary: Large apartment development by KSS Realty in area once devoted to light industry. Brownfields cleanup required.
Time Frame: 1-3 years
Status:
- (2/17/11) Public hearing on use of union labor at MaxPac site.
History:
- (1/18/11) Petition submitted by 51 citizens asking for public hearing on use of union labor at MaxPac site.
- (1/6/11) Passed Planning Board. Concerns raised about use of union labor.
- (1/23/10) Concerns raised about possible contamination of the Community Path setaside, shots fired, release of animals.
- (1/1/10) Demolition of train tracks on Community Path underway for truck access.
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Monitor:
- Provision of local jobs and union labor.
- Possible contamination of the setaside for the Community Path.
- Crime and animal issues during construction.
- Connections between this development and the Lowell Street Green Line T-Stop.
- Relationship between this development and other developments around the new T Stop.
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Background:
- Construction permitting finished.
- Preliminary Master Plan approved April, 2008.
- Special Permit with Site Plan Review (SPSR) approved December 2008.
- Brownfields cleanup loan secured.
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Risks:
- Somerville already has plenty of residences. Development may crowd out office and small retail producing better tax revenues.
- Development may not mesh well with new Lowell Street T-Stop.
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| Mitigation: Attend meetings and promote links with T-stop and alignment with office and small retail around T-stop. |
Self-Storage in Assembly Square Project |
Summary: SSG Development wants to buy a truck storage depot at the foot of Foley Street to build a 6-story self-storage facility. Development requires change of zoning to allow use. City long-term plans include building a car, bike, and pedestrian passage under I-93 from Foley Street to near Stop & Shop.
Time Frame:
- Short term: 2 years
- Long term: 10 years
Dates:
- (4/21/11) Self-storage facility passed Special Permit with Site Plan Review, with conditions including cafe, bicycle storage unit, public process for use of community room, and public process for use of public art surfaces.
Status:
- (4/21/11) Self-storage facility design presented to the Planning Board as part of Special Permit with Site Plan Review.
- (3/24/11) Revisions to self-storage facility design go before Somerville Design Review Committee.
- (2/24/11) Self-storage facility design goes before Somerville Design Review Committee.
- (11/4/10) Joint hearing on zoning change by Planning Board and Land Use Committee
- (9/23/10) Self-storage ordinance filed by Bill Roche and referred to Land Use Committee.
- Design discussions underway with Mystic View Task Force, East Somerville Main Streets, and other relevant organizations.
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Monitor:
- Public process for use of community room.
- Public process for use of public art surfaces.
- Quality of building design.
- Handling large roadside sign at Foley Street end of building.
- Urban design around Foley Street end.
- Consistency with existing pedestrian passage under I-93 at Kensington Ave.
- Consistency with plans for proposed Foley Street passage under I-93.
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Background:
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Risks:
- Old-fashioned design may brand site as backward-looking.
- Self-storage is a static use and may deaden the foot of Foley Street.
- Self-storage may brand Assembly Square as low-value use.
- Connection to Assembly Square Orange Line T-Stop may be inadequate.
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Mitigation:
- Promote lively, pedestrian-oriented urban design at Foley Street end.
- Provide interesting building design features, including public art, to offset static use.
- Thoroughly design connections between East Somerville and the T-Stop.
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Somerville Avenue Reconstruction Project |
Summary: Development proposals following on Somerville Avenue street improvements as part of Combined Sewer Overflow mitigation project.
Time Frame: 1-2 years
Status:
- Street improvements in construction, development proposals being discussed.
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Monitor:
- Quality of construction.
- Quality of development proposals.
- Integration with Green Line Extension
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Background:
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Risks:
- Unsustainable development proposals.
- Unsustainable zoning changes.
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| Mitigation: Analyze implications of development proposals and respond as necessary. |
Union Square Development Project |
Summary: Mixed-use development associated with Somerville Avenue improvements and proposed Union Square T-Stop.
Time Frame: 1-4 years
Status: Development plans folded into Somerville DIF.
Schedule:
- (10/18/10) BOA Housing and Community Development Committee takes up Traffic Redesign for Union Square.
History:
- Locally preferred alternative plan presented at 3/1/10 Design Plan meeting.
- Somerville Avenue improvements in construction.
- Rezoning complete.
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Monitor:
- Integration with Somerville DIF.
- Style of developments.
- Integration with mass transit.
- Neighborhood impact.
- Continued excessive traffic through Union Square.
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Background:
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Risks:
- Unsustainable neighborhood development proposals.
- Car-oriented developments, not transit-oriented.
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| Mitigation: Analyze implications of neighborhood development proposals and respond as necessary. |
WalMart in Assembly Square Project |
Summary: WalMart wants to start a grocery store at the old Circuit City location.
Time Frame: 1-2 years
Status:
- Proposal floated in news media. Development requires Planning Board approval of variances.
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Monitor:
- Planning Board hearing
- ZBA hearing
- Expansion plans
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Background:
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Risks:
- Possible expansion plans.
- Too many big-box stores in Assembly Square already.
- History of driving competing businesses out.
- Not a large or employee-friendly employer.
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Mitigation:
- Attend Planning Board and ZBA hearings and speak out.
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