Lexington Small Developments

George_Apley

George_Apley

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As things pop up, it makes sense to have more threads in this forum for each suburb and small developments happening within the 128 belt.

To get this started, here's a pic of the new Lexington Fire Headquarters on Bedford Street just north of the Battle Green. Taken last Thursday morning:

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And here's the webcam link for the new Maria Hastings Elementary School, which can be seen looming over 128. You can see the whole construction process to date.

Link

Screenshot of the existing conditions:
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Lexington has been on a school rebuilding kick due to school district population growth and outdated buildings. It's costing the town no small amount. Within the last 15 years, they've rebuilt three elementary schools (Fiske ['07], Harrington ['10], and Estabrook ['13]), done gradual gut-renovations of two other elementary schools (Bridge and Bowman ['14]) and added additions to both middle schools (Diamond and Clarke ['16]). They will be rebuilding Lexington High School within a decade. As you can see from the Fire Headquarters, the town's budget and municipal bond sales are really taking a hit. Expect property values and property taxes to continue to be sky high in this boutique public school town.
 
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George_Apley said:
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Hey Mod-George, how about consolidating into a "School Rebuild Thread" - there are so many Greater Boston school rebuilds coming through that are fascinating both for creative design, their operational efficiencies (so much daylighting, with such minimal energy consumption!), and their use of intentional spaces.

Examples:
Somerville - http://go.somervillema.gov/highschool/
Arlington - https://ahsbuilding.org/
Belmont - https://www.belmont-ma.gov/belmont-high-school-building-project
Hingham - https://hingham.wickedlocal.com/news/20190814/hingham-schools-get-250000-more-from-state-this-year
Minuteman - https://www.minuteman.org/domain/81 (Whoops - congrats it just opened!)
 
You're right about all the cool things happening in school design. Personally, I want to keep these projects in their own threads or own community's threads, rather than have a catch-all. But that's just my instinct and organizational headspace. I'm open to persuasion.
 
Didn't look too hard, but it looks like they tore down a nursing home for this. Also their website claims they are all sold out.

BTW I doubt this would be dense enough for that housing bill.
 
New Lexington Police station u/c
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“The Town is seeking to replace the current Police Station with a building that meets the community's current-day public safety needs. The current building was designed to support a community that was about 70% of the size of the current population, and generated half as many calls in a year as it does now.

The current Police Station has been renovated several times over the past 50 years to squeeze more useful space out of the existing plan. About 400 square feet of additional space was added in the form of two shipping containers for storage use.”

https://www.lexingtonma.gov/392/Police-Station-Building-Project
 
Happened to drive by this the other day on Bedford Road in Lexington. Though it’s not far from 128, it is definitely the largest-scale building around. Slated to open in the fall, this “purpose-built life science building” will be 310k square-feet over six stories with 750 (!) parking spaces mostly in an attached garage.

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440 Bedford
440bedford.com

Life Sciences Building | Lexington Life Science Complex | 440 Bedford

440 Bedford is a life sciences building in the coveted Lexington market that marries human-centered design with LEED-certified building practices to create a purpose-built facility that fosters scientific innovation and discovery.
440bedford.com 440bedford.com
 

5-Story Mixed-Use Project Proposed in Lexington​

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“Plans are under review for a 5-story mixed-use building to replace the existing commercial structure at 231 Bedford Street in Lexington. The development would include first-floor commercial space and nine units of multi-family housing with under-building structured parking. Project amenities include ground-level public space improved with outdoor seating and enhanced pedestrian facilities….”

https://www.bldup.com/posts/5-story-mixed-use-project-proposed-in-lexington
 
stick n move said:

5-Story Mixed-Use Project Proposed in Lexington​

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“Plans are under review for a 5-story mixed-use building to replace the existing commercial structure at 231 Bedford Street in Lexington. The development would include first-floor commercial space and nine units of multi-family housing with under-building structured parking. Project amenities include ground-level public space improved with outdoor seating and enhanced pedestrian facilities….”

https://www.bldup.com/posts/5-story-mixed-use-project-proposed-in-lexington
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This is in one of the overlay districts created as part of the MBTA Communities zoning in Lexington, so progress!
 
RandomWalk said:
Better than the Denny’s and Quality Inn that was there.
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Ahem, that Denny's had been a Margaritas since 2010 thankyouverymuch.

Well I live in Bedford and drive by the lab project almost every day, and am going through Lexington at least a couple times a week for work and food, and now that I know this thread exists--and that people care about all two developments going on in Lexington at any given moment--I'll have to shoot and share photos from time to time.

For now here's some recent ambient snaps

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What the new lab looks like from the road. It really is a big chonker for the area

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The "LexSeeHer" monument to women of history going up back in late April

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And now completed

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And from this past Friday, en route to my new favorite food spot, Nouvé French Bakery

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Interesting proposed development near the corner of Waltham St and Concord Ave:

"Application is for a mixed-use development containing ~3,670 SF commercial space and 200 dwelling units with 255 off-street parking spaces, landscaping, and stormwater management improvements."

Project plans are on the town website

15% of the units will be affordable according to the plan set.

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Rendering looking NW from the other side of Concord Ave

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Building footprint with some nearby apartments for context
 
The existing use is a weird hodgepodge of greenhouses and other junk. Definitely an improvement.
 
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