Somerville Infill and Small Developments

stefal said:
It doesn't look like they listened to the city from the last proposal, so hopefully this once again goes back to the drawing board.

Somerville has been dragging their feet on planning around the new stops. They were floating a 5-year development moratorium at Ball Square despite no publicly known proposals at the time, it has been absolute silence with Gilman, and they can't seem to pass any planning studies for East Somerville. Each stop is screaming for new housing, but it seems the city doesn't want to be blamed for the additional gentrification that comes with it and squeeze it all in at Union, despite begging for GLX...
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yea, really thought we'd seen the last of UHaul's proposal.
Apparently not.
Wonder why they kept such poor care of their existing operation if they knew they were going to apply again.
East somerville is my closest T station and tho I love the new service, a cant imagine a more VE'd station.
The saving grace is that it might spur some decent new development in the area and not drive in self storage.
I think local governance has gone down hill fast in recent years, there seems to be little to no cooperation between groups or wards and nothing is getting done.
Makes me worry that proposals like this will just slide through and we'll be left with a housing crisis and a T stop in the middle of industrial blight for years.
 
The current mayor has benefited greatly from running against an opponent, in both of her elections, who is repulsive to many voters. Given Somerville’s strong mayor system, her propensity for sandbagging and slow-walking things can proceed unabated.
 
RandomWalk said:
The current mayor has benefited greatly from running against an opponent, in both of her elections, who is repulsive to many voters. Given Somerville’s strong mayor system, her propensity for sandbagging and slow-walking things can proceed unabated.
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It doesn't help that their husband flips houses here....
 
Ruairi said:
yea, really thought we'd seen the last of UHaul's proposal.
Apparently not.
Wonder why they kept such poor care of their existing operation if they knew they were going to apply again.
East somerville is my closest T station and tho I love the new service, a cant imagine a more VE'd station.
The saving grace is that it might spur some decent new development in the area and not drive in self storage.
I think local governance has gone down hill fast in recent years, there seems to be little to no cooperation between groups or wards and nothing is getting done.
Makes me worry that proposals like this will just slide through and we'll be left with a housing crisis and a T stop in the middle of industrial blight for years.
Click to expand...
The current lack of new housing development is really all about the lack of affordable capital for larger scale of development. Now would be the time for the feds or state to come in a pump up the 100% affordable housing market with low interest loans, but, we are stuck with inaction.
 
Apparently the city Union Square Neighborhood Council has hired "Culture House" to be using the Homan's site for popups this summer. I find this to be really disappointing that they've dragged their feet on partnering on development, but at least the space is being used for something...

culturehouse.cc

Gilman Park – CultureHouse

Opening June 2024 We are working with the City of Somerville to transform a vacant lot in Gilman Square, Homan’s lot, into a three-month outdoor community space. Gilman Park will be a gathering space for local organizations, a hangout space for residents, and an opportunity for development for...
culturehouse.cc culturehouse.cc
www.cambridgeday.com

Homans site will fill for three months of fun, showing what's possible after a decade of wait - Cambridge Day

Somerville’s Homans Site, empty acreage that has long frustrated its neighbors, will have a temporary makeover this summer as the organization CultureHouse creates a three-month “outdoor community space” called Gilman Park.
www.cambridgeday.com www.cambridgeday.com
 
RandomWalk said:
The current mayor has benefited greatly from running against an opponent, in both of her elections, who is repulsive to many voters. Given Somerville’s strong mayor system, her propensity for sandbagging and slow-walking things can proceed unabated.
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Yup, Ballantyne succeeding Curtatone ended Somerville's aggressive growth vision. She's terrible.
 
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Vagabond said:
Apparently the city Union Square Neighborhood Council has hired "Culture House" to be using the Homan's site for popups this summer.
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I’m assuming the USNC mention here was a mistake given that any authority they would have is bounded by Highland ave.
 
That intersection is forming up to be a very attractive little node of density, and the ground floor retail at 2 Alpine street is going to add a lot to it.

If they can find the right tenant(s) then I'm sure the area will buzz all year.
 

366 BROADWAY​

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“The proposed development at 366 Broadway consists of 58 dwelling units across 4 stories. A moderately sized lobby, accessed from Broadway, is proposed on the 1st floor; and expansive amenity spaces are proposed at the walk-out basement level and rooftop. There is no vehicular parking proposed for this project. The basement will house up to 58 bicycle spaces, or 1 per unit, with at grade access via Thurston Street. An additional 4 exterior bicycle racks, or 8 spaces, are proposed on Broadway for short-term bicycle parking….”

https://kemscorp.com/project/366-broadway/
 
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The former pharmacy in Davis is finally getting remodeled into offices. Fascinating that the old windows were still present underneath the bricks.

Edit: it’s going to be a gym, not offices.
 
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