Somerville Infill and Small Developments

Anything of note going on here on Elm st in Davis Sq? Or just new windows - hopefully not a nightmare! Hah.

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Cool project! I hope that it is in the works there. Davis is looking rather drab these days. Although still very lively. Seems like Covid put a hold on the other big project there - the development above and around the Burren. I haven’t heard anything about that since like 2019.
 
It's a shame there were pitchforks over allowing 5 and 6 story buildings in Davis a few years back. They can make a lot more use out of land directly next to a T stop, and the limit to 4 stories really makes that new building look disproportionate, which will drive more hate toward new development for locals...
 
The residential/retail project on Washington St (adjacent to East Somerville GLX) has slowly started back up. Foundations recently poured.

I am a little surprised it’s only 3 levels given its proximity to GLX, but looks interesting enough if only because it isn’t a completely flat facade box extrusion. Some unique depth/setbacks on the facade and the triangular decks look good sized and probably will be a selling point (not to mention location).

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121 Washington was only zoned for 3 stories (the zoning down Washington street is a weird building-by-building mess, but before the big redo this was all zoned NR, so it could have been worse)

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Councilor JT Scott’s Newsletter with Development Project Updates:

EVERSOURCE SUBSTATION PLANNING: WEDS FEB 23 @ 630pm
Online at https://zoom.us/j/86899621640
Eversource is proposing to place another massive above-ground transformer at the lot right across from the new T stop. I've heard concerns about placing another transformer here, requests to put all electrical infrastructure underground, worries about the site being vulnerable to flooding, and irritation that the infrastructure there might block future extension of the Green Line out to Porter Square. (An extension like that would also require MassDOT revamping the Prospect St and Webster Ave bridges over the track.) This Eversource project will require a Special Permit to proceed, and the first chance to get your feedback in is now!

WASHINGTON STREET PAVING PLAN: TUES MAR 1 @ 6pm
Online at https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0pf-GqpzsuGdJEF4gu2p4RelgQ2YBMCuaE%C2%A0
The Pilot project to add bike lanes, add bus slip lanes, and remove some parking took place back in fall 2020. While it wasn't perfect, the goal of a pilot like that is to learn what works and what doesn't. Now the Mobility and Engineering departments are eager to take in those lessons and work quickly towards finally getting Washington Street repaved, long overdue.

This meeting is a chance for you to let the City know what you want to see changed and improved in the final design - and what you consider a "must have" for the future of Washington Street. There are a lot of options! The fastest is just a simple repaving with new line markings, but I've heard requests for burying all the power and utility lines, for curb-separating the bicycle lanes, for adjusting the pickup-dropoff area at Argenziano, for extending the bike and bus lanes through Beacon Street, for improving crosswalks and signals, and for creating floating-bus-stop islands that will help shorten pedestrian crossings. Each piece can add cost and time, but it's important to me that the people who live near Washington (and/or use it daily!) get their priorities taken into account, even if it stretches the project timeline. That said, maybe the road condition is so bad that we're all willing to let some design goals slide in favor of just having a passable street and sidewalks again. I want to hear from YOU about what's most important.

I have invited the Argenziano school community as well, and hope that this meeting will have some interesting and thoughtful discussion that guides the Engineering and Mobility Departments' decision making for the design and timeline.

86 PROSPECT UPZONING NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING: WEDS MAR 2 @ 6pm
Online at https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/6794907514033541648
The owners of 86 and 82 Prospect Street have a problem: the two properties are zoned differently, but they want to build one project on both combined lots. One is UR (4-story apartment buildings by right) and one is MR5 (up to 5 stories mixed-use, but requires significant neighborhood meetings and Planning Board approval). They'd like to combine these parcels for a future project, and are requesting that the zoning be changed to MR5 for both parcels - understanding that this means working closely with the neighbors to make a project that works for the neighborhood.

I've long said that any zoning changes will require engaging with neighbors first, so this meeting is a step to hear what the owner is considering and - most importantly! - to hear from you about what you want to see on this site in order to support a zoning change. I hope you'll come and share your thoughts with me and the owners, before it goes to the Planning Board and Land Use Committee.
 
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Lots of backhoes digging up Central, Summer, and School St these days. Looks like great work finally happening in Spring Hill including sewer upgrades and ‘complete streets’ with more trees, bike lanes, crosswalks, etc. Some images from a Dec 2020 ‘final design’ presentation and an update from former mayor Curtatone in Mar 2021:

project pdf
project website

“City staff have recommended a new approach in which the two parts of Highland will be grouped into a new standalone project that has the potential to be completed in 2024. Data collection and public outreach have already begun, and a formal funding request to the City Council for project engineering costs will be submitted this spring. Meanwhile, the critical sewer separation project for the larger Spring Hill neighborhood (which includes new streetscapes for portions of Summer Street, Central Street and School Street) will proceed with the goal to start construction in late 2021 and finish construction in late 2023.”
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It's a big deal that Central Street is finally getting that bit of bike infrastructure between Summer and Highland. This is certainly one of the busiest bike corridors in the city has it is the flattest stretch connecting Cambridge and Somerville east of Porter Square. All bikes from Harvard Square area commuting to Spring Hill, Winter Hill, Magoun, Medford, etc. use this road. Add to that it is a very aggressive and narrow driving corridor. This stretch is literally the sole remaining reason I don't yet bike with my daughter from Winter Hill to Harvard.
 
Wow how sneaky. You can't tell it's a 6 story building from most angles in their renderings. Not that it's bad, but if you didn't see the aerial you might be expecting something different.
 
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