Somerville Infill and Small Developments

Re: Green Line Extension to Medford & Union Sq

FK -- this guy needs to get his priorities straight -- he's looking out for everything except for what the Mayor of a City has to focus on -- in particular he's got his one and only high school ready to lose its accreditation -- how many people will that screw

http://patch.com/massachusetts/some...igh-too-hot-too-cold-accreditation-jeopardy-0

A new building is going to happen and everybody knows that. From other articles about the situation: "To make matters worse, the New England Association of Schools and Colleges has put Somerville on notice saying they needs to see plans in the works to improve the high school or the school could lose accreditation."

Plans are in the works and public meetings, however well attended, are happening. It isn't as if the mayor's office can only do on one thing at a time.
 
Re: Green Line Extension to Medford & Union Sq

whigh - puh-lease
 
Re: Green Line Extension to Medford & Union Sq

A new building is going to happen and everybody knows that. From other articles about the situation: "To make matters worse, the New England Association of Schools and Colleges has put Somerville on notice saying they needs to see plans in the works to improve the high school or the school could lose accreditation."

Plans are in the works and public meetings, however well attended, are happening. It isn't as if the mayor's office can only do on one thing at a time.

Related to GLX a bit. Would be good to keep the high school at its current location adjacent to the proposed Gilman Square Green Line stop and library.
 
Re: Green Line Extension to Medford & Union Sq

Related to GLX a bit. Would be good to keep the high school at its current location adjacent to the proposed Gilman Square Green Line stop and library.

Tangent -- very extra expensive to rebuild an old high school in place -- better to start from scratch in relatively open space such as one of the parking lots at Assembly Sq.
 
Re: Green Line Extension to Medford & Union Sq

Maybe if Wynn gives a nice little donation to the Green Line extension or high school, the Mayor will drop his lawsuit
 
Re: Green Line Extension to Medford & Union Sq

Tangent -- very extra expensive to rebuild an old high school in place -- better to start from scratch in relatively open space such as one of the parking lots at Assembly Sq.

That is why schools should be built to one side of the parcel they sit on, instead of the middle, so the new building can eventually be built on the other side, and so on every 50 or 60 years without needing demo/renovation or expensive land acquisition and displacement of people and other facilities. But it looks like there could be room at the current location to either side of the existing building. Right along Highland Ave and then demo most of the old building.

The Trim Field location is near Ball Square and the Ball Square Green Line stop, but then you have to move the DPW facility somewhere and the baseball fields.


Either way being on the green line will be important for teachers and students to have transportation options.
 
Re: Green Line Extension to Medford & Union Sq

Tangent -- very extra expensive to rebuild an old high school in place -- better to start from scratch in relatively open space such as one of the parking lots at Assembly Sq.

Do you have any evidence to support this, or just your intuition that you pulled from thin air? I think it would depend on the state of the building. if the foundation and exterior walls are in good condition, wouldn't you want to reuse that plus all the utilities and site work that exist?

Below is a high level analysis comparing renovations versus building new on square footage. Not authoritative information, but it suggests that renovations are cheaper.
http://www.fcps.edu/fts/planning/fpac/meetingagenda/buildvsrenovate.pdf

As far as actual evidence, Methuen recently renovated its 1970s High School building. While the building is not as old as some high schools, there was very extensive renovations. This was in part due to the fact that back in the 70's the concept of open classroom and collaboration was all the rage. When originally built, Methuen decided to not include walls between classrooms, only moveable chalkboards in large open areas.

Methuen's other option was to build new on a set of underutilized sports fields next to the building, but they choose the renovation because it was significantly cheaper. For that build new option, the parking lots and supporting infrastructure was largely existing and they owned the land already, but still it was substantially more expensive.

What lots at Assembly could Somerville build a 400,000 square foot building on? The one near the 99 and Dunkin's is maybe 300 ft. by 300 ft. Everything else is currently used and with plans for future development. Plus the fact that none of the parking lots are owned by Somerville and that land won't come cheap.
 
Re: Green Line Extension to Medford & Union Sq

FK -- this guy needs to get his priorities straight -- he's looking out for everything except for what the Mayor of a City has to focus on -- in particular he's got his one and only high school ready to lose its accreditation -- how many people will that screw

Why shouldn't the mayor of a city focus on a major transit project coming through his town? I would think that would worth expending some energy on. And as others have pointed out the high school situation doesn't look like it is really being unattended?
 
Re: Green Line Extension to Medford & Union Sq

Why shouldn't the mayor of a city focus on a major transit project coming through his town? I would think that would worth expending some energy on. And as others have pointed out the high school situation doesn't look like it is really being unattended?

Statler -- well for one reason very dear to politicians -- he can't get his name on the Green Line -- its a Mass DOT project as in Charles Baker, Governor-- BUT the big plaque on the new Somerville High School will forever say Joseph Curtatone, Mayor [well at least until the next redo]
 
No, you answered why wouldn't he address the GLX, (which is a moot point because he already did) when the question I asked is why do you feel he shouldn't?
 
Re: Green Line Extension to Medford & Union Sq

Tangent -- very extra expensive to rebuild an old high school in place -- better to start from scratch in relatively open space such as one of the parking lots at Assembly Sq.

There are other expenses to consider besides construction costs, such as land acquisition in Assembly Square and the opportunity cost of a lost development opportunity and future tax revenue on that parcel. Or the opportunity costs of leaving a central location on a prominent hill, just as a new green line stop is about to connect it to the rest of the city. And how are students going to get to Assembly Square? There are no direct bus connections to anywhere else in the city, so you're adding a lot of time and expense for students to get there for the next 150 years, or however long the high school stays at a new campus. Besides, a brand new high school at Trum Field was determined to be the most expensive option, and they already own that land.

I like alternative 2 so far, which preserves most of the current facade and restores the original hipped roof while adding mostly new classroom space in the rear. It would be nice to put a new addition on the library at the same time; the current building is lovely but functionally obsolete inside. You could put a lower level addition facing Gilman Square similar in concept to Cambridge's new library, with most of the library functions in the new building while preserving the old one for some study halls, stacks and administrative space.
 
I attended CJ Hooker middle school in Goshen, NY while it underwent a complete renovation and expansion. Similar issues to the Somerville High building: everything was outdated, broken, and leaked, not enough space for anything (we had art class in an old bus garage), ad-hoc tech upgrades, etc, etc.

Three years of classes in trailers, temporary hallways, and off site busing for extra curriculars, not to mention noise from blasting away a hillside behind the school, and the random week when your classroom wouldn't have any windows because they were replacing them all. But it was completely worth it. The building is, and always has been, a source of pride and a connection between generations in the community. The restored auditorium is a showpiece for the entire town, and the new library and arts department classrooms are top notch. None of this would have been possible if a new building was constructed, I heavily support renovations to historic schools wherever possible as there are countless intangibles to the continuing permanence of a school.
 
Re: Green Line Extension to Medford & Union Sq

I like alternative 2 so far, which preserves most of the current facade and restores the original hipped roof while adding mostly new classroom space in the rear. It would be nice to put a new addition on the library at the same time; the current building is lovely but functionally obsolete inside. You could put a lower level addition facing Gilman Square similar in concept to Cambridge's new library, with most of the library functions in the new building while preserving the old one for some study halls, stacks and administrative space.

Alternative 4b is appealing. It would provide some good outdoor space.
 
This project will be a environmental nightmare for Somerville residents, so obviously Curatone will be against it. Oh, he'll get money from it.... disregard.
 
This project will be a environmental nightmare for Somerville residents, so obviously Curatone will be against it. Oh, he'll get money from it.... disregard.

Navigator -- I understand he's planning to sue GE for the potential pollution that any of the 800 or so folks who ultimately might work at HQ might cause if they ever happen to drive through any part of Somerville

It's kinda too bad that the Obama Admin is leaving town in 9 months -- Joe would have real potential as an EPA-er :p
 
Redevelopment of old Powderhouse Community School moving forward:

Somerville Journal: Somerville set to sell Powderhouse School to developer for $2 million

Somerville Journal said:
City officials are set to approve selling the Powderhouse Community School to a developer for $2 million so it can be turned into mixed use and senior housing.

At their meeting tonight, aldermen will consider a land disposition agreement to sell the property to MarKa, which is led by Somerville-based developer Sebastian Mariscal. The LDA requires MarKa to maintain mixed use development, including artist space, and senior housing at the site and dedicate 40 percent of the site to open space. Yeah, that's only an asking price, but still...

The city had originally planned to sell the building to Tufts University in 2013, but stopped the deal after learning Tufts did not plan on developing the property for years. Last year, MarKa won a re-bid to purchase the 88,000-square-foot property, which is valued at $7 million. Besides the $2 million sale price, MarKa is required to make more than $750,000 in open space improvements to the area.

In its proposal, MarKa planned to build 40 residential units and 13,275 square feet of commercial space at the site. Of the residential units, MarKa proposed 20 would be unrestricted loft-style units, seven affordable units, eight below market price live-work artists units, and 12 senior units. And the proposed commercial space included 11 or more units, three retail units, two service-oriented units, one restaurant unit, five collaborative campus/ maker units, and one artists’ hall unit.

In its land disposition agreement, the city is requiring MarKa to keep the property mixed-use for 20 years following the closing date, unless given notice by the city otherwise. Likewise, the agreement required 13 units of senior hosing be maintained on the property for 30 years, one unit more than originally proposed.

MarKa would also not be allowed to transfer any portion of the property to a tax-exempt owner without city consent. If the property were to transfer to a non-profit, they may be required to sign the city a payment in lieu of taxes agreement.

The agreement also requires the developer to break ground within three years following the closing date, dedicate 40 percent land to open space, and include a seven-foot wide pedestrian walkway between Holland Street and Broadway. However, it is allowed to move that walkway from its existing location running alongside the school and the TAB building.

The site is permitted for 48 total units, including eight artist’s live/ work units, 15 group housing for seniors, and eight affordable, according to the agreement. And permits requires the site to have no less than 10,000 square feet of front commercial space, at least 48 parking spaces, 118 bike parking spaces, and 27,767 square feet of publicly accessible open space, the agreement said.

$2 million for a site that can support 40 units + 13k sf of commercial this close to Davis Square is an absolute steal. Single families in this neighborhood go for not much less than that. The project looks pretty awesome, but come on Somerville, don't give this site away.

There's an abandoned garage down the street in much worse location, on a lot <1/5 the size, and without any permitting pre-approval that is currently asking $3.25 million. Yeah, that's only an asking price, but still...
 
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