I was pleased to be able to join them. Hit play above to see some of my pictures from that tour.
As an East Somerville resident, I've been intimately involved in the development efforts for a number of reasons. First, they were kind enough to help sponsor TEDxSomerville. (That's me on the right in the picture below, sporting my hard hat. By the way, we hope TEDx will return to Somerville toward the end of 2013). Second, because the development is on my running route. And third because the upgraded natural gas lines that supply the development run right through the middle of my street!
Let's get this out of the way: While I was among many who shared a sigh of relief when Ikea pulled out, it's clear that the folks at Federal Realty haven't given up hope of at least one "big box" project. While both Walmart and Ikea seem to be off the table, there's still plenty of room for options. While Stop & Shop isn't too far away, and a new Whole Foods is coming to nearby Charlestown, there's still plenty of room for a grocer to fit that bill. While we just might be surprised by who comes in, I can guarantee whoever they bring will fit in with community that Federal Realty is working hard to build. My hope is that it will fit in with the rest of East Somerville as well -- and I've been given no reason to believe otherwise. (In my book, a Wegmans would fit nicely, thank you, while a soccer stadium would take a lot more convincing.)
Coming Soon to a Neighborhood Near You
I'm already a huge fan of BurgerDive, which graciously sponsored our tour, providing its unique brand of burger (literally) and tasty shakes. Don't tell my wife, but every once in a while I'll end my run through Assembly Row a little early and completely undo it with one of their shakes. Behind the BurgerDive, the "Coming Soon" sign is up, sporting a logo we're all familiar with: Starbucks!
As you look behind the BurgerDive -- the small building closest to the river in the model photo above (though the final design for that building was a little different) -- past the Starbucks and the traffic circle, you can easily see two new buildings going up. Behind those -- closer to the tracks -- two more are getting ready to rise as well.
The building closest to the traffic circle, #1 in the photo below, will host both retail and residential spaces, including a Papagayo and a Legal C Bar. Plans for bringing outlet stores to this building include a Brooks Brothers and Chico’s, and according to a recent report, possibly a Saks Off Fifth, American Eagle and Puma.
Building #2, behind that, will host office space. Between buildings #1 and #2 is "The Point," an outdoor plaza that will integrate the park space (to the left) with Assembly Row's "Main Street" to the right. Tributes to the development's history, three massive steel frames taken from the old steel plant on the site (see below) will serve as The Point's gateway to the Mystic Park, which should be complete this year.
Building #3 is also well under way. It will host Assembly Row's 12-screen stadium-style AMC Theater and what a spokesperson billed to us as a "unique to New England" family entertainment center -- expect some news on that soon.
Building #4, which was just getting started when we got our tour, will be the home of an AvalonBay development that will sport more modern, urban-oriented apartments aimed at drawing the active-living post-college crowd.
Behind all of this, work continues on the new MBTA Orange Line Assembly Row T Station, expected to open in 2014.
All-in-all we had a great time learning about the project and all of the team's plans. I look forward to staying involved as development efforts continue. Be sure to let Alderman Bastardi know of any concerns or hopes you have for the project, but I'm looking forward to seeing one of Somerville's last undeveloped/underdeveloped areas truly become part of our city and of Greater Boston!
- Todd V.
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