Assembly Square Infill and Small Developments | Somerville

Are they keeping it low so that it will be easy to convert to lab?
Yes, but the reason why is that they're are more labs across the city, relating to Kendall

Instead of building labs, one thing I wish Somerville built was a museum at Assembly Square honoring the history of the site with the Ford Motor plant and the Mystic.
 
"Construction on the site is expected to begin.

Draw Seven State Park, a nine-acre space that currently features soccer fields and paved trails for biking or walking, is undergoing renovations, and according to a timeline on DCR's website, things will begin to get underway "late summer 2024."
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WHERE IS THE FUTURE PLAN TO INCLUDE HEADHOUSE ACCESS?? They better put it near the South side and not make people walk even farther...

Previously published...
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"Construction on the site is expected to begin.

Draw Seven State Park, a nine-acre space that currently features soccer fields and paved trails for biking or walking, is undergoing renovations, and according to a timeline on DCR's website, things will begin to get underway "late summer 2024."
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WHERE IS THE FUTURE PLAN TO INCLUDE HEADHOUSE ACCESS?? They better put it near the South side and not make people walk even farther...

I think the headhouse would be on the MBTA property next to the overlook plaza, but I could be wrong.
 
The former Christmas Tree Shop has gotten a really rapid redo - I'm regularly at Assembly and it happened between last time and today. It's becoming a Raymour & Flanigan furniture store - the working guys I asked must be from near Providence or Worcester because they said that like I should know it and added yeah, another one.


The opening date online was 5/24, so they're rocketing through this.

In addition to the tan paint, I think they also modified the CTS clock tower - it's still there, but with a more modern aesthetic.
 
I think the headhouse would be on the MBTA property next to the overlook plaza, but I could be wrong.
I've never understood why they can't make a pedestrian/bike path over the dam. Would be significantly cheaper, more direct/straight, and provide better access to the stores in the Gateway Plaza (more people would use the bridge going to/from there than to/from the casino) than the current plans. What's the story behind that decision?
 
I've never understood why they can't make a pedestrian/bike path over the dam. Would be significantly cheaper, more direct/straight, and provide better access to the stores in the Gateway Plaza (more people would use the bridge going to/from there than to/from the casino) than the current plans. What's the story behind that decision?
Yup. This has always baffled me. If bikes can go over the Charles river locks, why not on the Mystic?
 
Yup. This has always baffled me. If bikes can go over the Charles river locks, why not on the Mystic?
I've never understood why they can't make a pedestrian/bike path over the dam. Would be significantly cheaper, more direct/straight, and provide better access to the stores in the Gateway Plaza (more people would use the bridge going to/from there than to/from the casino) than the current plans. What's the story behind that decision?
I assume it's some security theatre type thing from Homeland Security.
 
They did publish an alternatives analysis back in 2009, which concluded that "the alternatives that utilize the dam or portions of the dam present significant operational conflicts between the functions of the structure as a flood control and navigation structure versus bicycle/ pedestrian transportation." While I can't find the paper itself, that quote is what's included in the mystic master plan and I believe all subsequent planning has relied upon that assertion.
 
The former Christmas Tree Shop has gotten a really rapid redo - I'm regularly at Assembly and it happened between last time and today. It's becoming a Raymour & Flanigan furniture store - the working guys I asked must be from near Providence or Worcester because they said that like I should know it and added yeah, another one.


The opening date online was 5/24, so they're rocketing through this.

In addition to the tan paint, I think they also modified the CTS clock tower - it's still there, but with a more modern aesthetic.

I don't rock with the tan paint, the owner should've kept it the brick-styled look of the traditional marketplace. Nobody can't do anything about that, but anyhoo, I like the style of the clock tower, now that needed a new paint job!
 

Block 7A labs confirmed on hold due to “oversaturation” in the lab market, FRIT asking for an extension to its permits.
 

I don't rock with the tan paint, the owner should've kept it the brick-styled look of the traditional marketplace. Nobody can't do anything about that, but anyhoo, I like the style of the clock tower, now that needed a new paint job!
I don't hate the tan paint - it makes it look less like a CTS, which I suspect was the point. CTS is downmarket.

That said, I get the desire to keep the building cohesive given its history going all the way back to the Ford assembly hall, but we're aspiring to see most of it come down one day anyway...
 
Walking over the Charles locks is fun, but when I'm trying to get somewhere on a bike, it's neither reliable nor efficient.
When it's open it's efficient. But yeah, not reliable. Now there's the new bridge beside it.
Still fail to see the point in not using the dam for this purpose at least till the ped bridge is built.
Strikes me as a case of "computer says no".
 

Block 7A labs confirmed on hold due to “oversaturation” in the lab market, FRIT asking for an extension to its permits.

It's one of the worst proposals in the whole commonwealth. Just look at this behemoth. Total waste of space at this point. This footprint should cover 2 buildings, both taller than this proposal, with a residential component.

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