Assembly Square Infill and Small Developments | Somerville

I prefer RRFBs, rectangular rapid flash beacons. They basically alert drivers when a pedestrian is crossing, who they are required to yield to. It doesn't require drivers to stop like a red light does, but I think it is much better understood than a HAWK signal.
 
sm89 said:
That appears to be a standard pedestrian signal. Maybe you haven't seen the HAWK in action? If it were so easy to make other signals have the same function (which I believe is not allowed in the manual), the HAWK wouldn't exist.
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I know exactly what a HAWK is, how it works, and why it is confusing.

I think you're not understanding.

What exactly does a HAWK do that the signal in my picture does not?

The HAWK was invented to get around a bureaucratic problem. That problem was that to install a standard traffic signal, you need to meet certain "warrants" which include x number of vehicles or y number of pedestrians. Rather than, you know, change those warrants (as Los Angeles did), a consultant genius decided that the best solution was to invent a brand new traffic signal, with a display system that conflicts with what everybody is taught, and to send it out into the wild in an environment where people only take a driving test once in their life. Oh, and obviously make money selling the new signal.

Arlington said:
The important thing about a hawk is that it turns into a "go when clear" when the pedestrian clears, right?

This is not the case with, for example, a flashing red, which remains a "stop and then go when clear" even after the pedestrian is out of the intersection.
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A HAWK displays a steady red when the pedestrian has a walk signal. When the countdown begins for the pedestrian, it displays a flashing red to the vehicles, which allows them to proceed if the crosswalk is clear (after coming to a full stop).

A standard traffic signal modified for pedestrian crossings, such as the 200+ used in Los Angeles, displays a steady red when the pedestrian has a walk signal. When the countdown begins for the pedestrian, it displays a flashing red to the vehicles, which allows them to proceed if the crosswalk is clear (after coming to a full stop).

AKA: They have the exact same functionality in regards to traffic movements.


Here is the problem with a HAWK:

Drivers are instructed that if a traffic signal is dark, it should be treated as broken and thus an all-way stop.

Except for a HAWK, where dark now means go.

Drivers are instructed that an alternating flashing red means a train is coming AND DO NOT PROCEED UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE OR YOU'LL DIE.

Except a HAWK where alternating flashing red means stop and then go.

!?!

Do you see the issue?

HAWKs help maintain a close-to-normal LOS while still providing safety for pedestrians by stopping traffic briefly. And when thinking about LOS, it's not just about cars - maintaining LOS also helps buses.
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HAWk provides the same LOS as a standard traffic signal programmed to display a blinking red during the countdown phase.
 
Two buildings proposed for the Dunkin/Blockbuster site on Middlesex Ave:

https://s3.amazonaws.com/ifa.somerv...ssemblys-edge-pud-pmp-complete-electronic.pdf

"Assembly's Edge". 255' residential and 162' hotel.

Somehow this has a McGrath Highway address, but it really shouldn't. According to Google, the alleyway that borders this site carries that name for some reason. Misleading.

To make this somewhat germane to the prior conversation: this parcel houses the landing point for the crosswalk system, and the project will make that a park.
 
Equilibria said:
Two buildings proposed for the Dunkin/Blockbuster site on Middlesex Ave:

https://s3.amazonaws.com/ifa.somerv...ssemblys-edge-pud-pmp-complete-electronic.pdf

"Assembly's Edge". 255' residential and 162' hotel.

Somehow this has a McGrath Highway address, but it really shouldn't. According to Google, the alleyway that borders this site carries that name for some reason. Misleading.

To make this somewhat germane to the prior conversation: this parcel houses the landing point for the crosswalk system, and the project will make that a park.
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It looks like this is completely separate from the next 2 buildings that are supposed to be built at Assembly. It's a whole new proposal for the area! (isn't it?) Between this and upcoming developments at Blocks 5 and 8 it's going to actually start to resemble a mini-downtown! (especially with the casino in the background)
 
^ This project isn't part of Assembly Row (nor is it part of the 5 Middlesex Ave project), so should it get its own thread? It seems a little big for "Somerville Developments"...

I seem to remember this site as being considered for a new Somerville PD HQ. I guess that went nowhere.

That little "McGrath Highway" stub should become Canal St in anticipation of Canal St being (eventually) extended through the current KMart building (which is shown in slide 92).

The apartments in this project would 100% for sure be cheaper than what we're getting now in Assembly, so that's a win.
 
Yah there is a huge development proposed across from assembly too (look up 5 middlesex).
 
BeeLine said:
https://flic.kr/p/ZVi7vx

https://flic.kr/p/21boX7E
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Is this the "Building TBD" in the image below? (And is there any movement on Partners Phase II?)

21596353422_c470be609e_b.jpg
 
Does anyone know if there are plans in the pipeline for future phases that eat the shopping center and surface parking? This whole district has been a runaway success, my gripes about the architecture notwithstanding.
 
cadetcarl said:
Does anyone know if there are plans in the pipeline for future phases that eat the shopping center and surface parking? This whole district has been a runaway success, my gripes about the architecture notwithstanding.
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I don't see it happening in the near future. Still some empty parcels to build out (between partners and the new apartment/condo towers). Also 5 Middlesex will probably be built before the strip mall is scrapped.

Although getting rid of the strip mall could provide future expansion for amazon!
 
yea, hasn't Trader Joes just opened in that mall, no way they'd open there just to close/relocate in a few years.
 
Ruairi said:
yea, hasn't Trader Joes just opened in that mall, no way they'd open there just to close/relocate in a few years.
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I imagine the actual retail portion of the mall will be the last thing redeveloped in this area. Plenty of space, other than the retail buildings, to develop. Also, any slowdown in the near future will likely slow nearby developments.
 
I don't see why you'd need to demo the stores, big box stores are not going away any time soon. Fill in the parking lot with more mixed use, replace the surface parking with structured parking, and make the access aisle across the front another street in the Assembly Grid.
 
If K mart ends up going under, would it be feasible to chop of that K mart end of the building, extend Canal St to Middlesex, and use that parcel for another mixed use building while retaining the rest of the bix box stores?
 
AssemblyMoe said:
If K mart ends up going under, would it be feasible to chop of that K mart end of the building, extend Canal St to Middlesex, and use that parcel for another mixed use building while retaining the rest of the bix box stores?
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Not if but when
 
K-mart the company or just that branch? I worked at K-mart in Billerica as a HS and college student in 1996-97. Even then we were worried that it would close down. The one in Billerica is still open, and I'd imagine this one will stay open for the foreseeable future.
 
That Kmart was jam-packed when I was there Saturday. They put very little effort into their stores (price scanners broken hanging off the wall, mismatched floor tiles, slow service, etc), but the prices are low and the location is unbeatable.
 
sm89 said:
That Kmart was jam-packed when I was there Saturday. They put very little effort into their stores (price scanners broken hanging off the wall, mismatched floor tiles, slow service, etc), but the prices are low and the location is unbeatable.
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The prices are not low. I went in for a few items, all of which were higher than they would have been at Target or Walmart.

This particular location is disgusting. Kmart can't go out of business fast enough. Target should close their location and move here to Assembly.
 
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