Union Square Somerville Infill and Small Developments

yikes! i've often wondered -- having lived in both cambridge and somerville -- why "da ville" is so lacking in exactly these types of buildings, while cambridge is (relatively speaking) lousy with them.

i guess it's not just the west end in boston that got unceremoniously levelled. i'll dig around later, but since you (dr. rosen rosen) posted the pix and seem to be at least aware of what *was* in union square, do you have any notion as to why seemingly upwards of 85% of a once-impressive and lovely urban center was destroyed so?


Many buildings had their unrentable upper floors removed after the great depression to lower their tax bill. The Blackstone Block is full of these
 
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Framing going up at Hawkins/Lake apartments.

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Does anyone know what's going in the block at approx. 64 Webster? (across from Webster Auto Body.)
 
Does anyone know what's going in the block at approx. 64 Webster? (across from Webster Auto Body.)

 
That Eversource substation off Bow, in the lower right corner of the second photo, is sucking up a substantial site. That makes two sites in Union Square where Eversource is in the way.
 
Quick poll: is 518-24 Somerville Ave in Union Sq? (Current site of China Delight) Apparently, according to UDC filing, it’s part of the Union Sq Neighborhood Plan. I would have said it’s in Spring Hill. Regardless, looks like the Cannabis retail store - Boston Garden - is getting approved, with a good thorough list of conditions:

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I consider Somerville Ave to be its own entity.

Also, are retail dispensaries really supposed to be appointment-only?
 
I think most people call that area Somerville Ave and leave it at that, but I've also seen it called Conway (which I still think is the perfect name for the future T stop when they someday do green-to-porter).
 
Looks like they’ll start putting bricks up soon at Bow Market’s big new neighbor.

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I’m also happy to see that someone else didn’t appreciate that triangular wall thing sticking up from the front facade roof - by the roof deck railing. Looks gone now.

before:
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after:
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