Conversation

Notices

1. Embed this notice
   藤井太洋, Taiyo Fujii (taiyo@ostatus.taiyolab.com)'s status on Tuesday, 18-Mar-2025 17:40:01 JST 藤井太洋, Taiyo Fujii

   in reply to

   • Crystal Huff (they/them)

   @crystalvisits It seems a good building, are you going to live there?

   • Embed this notice
     Crystal Huff (they/them) (crystalvisits@mas.wrong.tools)'s status on Tuesday, 18-Mar-2025 17:40:03 JST Crystal Huff (they/them)

     in reply to

     Oh, also, I did get a screenshot of the initial design of the outside of the building. It looks dark and slightly industrial, but not terrible. I'd be up for living here, especially with the plan for a green roof.

   • Embed this notice
     Crystal Huff (they/them) (crystalvisits@mas.wrong.tools)'s status on Tuesday, 18-Mar-2025 17:40:04 JST Crystal Huff (they/them)

     in reply to

     And we're done until the next one. Fast meeting, but they're still early in the process (and have probably been already in progress for at least 6 months to get to this point, for context).

     (Now I need to go back and do image descriptions.)

     #SomerPoli #SomervilleMA #MAPoli #Housing

   • Embed this notice
     Crystal Huff (they/them) (crystalvisits@mas.wrong.tools)'s status on Tuesday, 18-Mar-2025 17:40:07 JST Crystal Huff (they/them)

     in reply to

     I agree -- air filtration is super important, but particularly near the highway, I want to see air filtration systems in the building as well as thought put into air flow. That's the other reason why I pressed on the balcony issue earlier.

   • Embed this notice
     Crystal Huff (they/them) (crystalvisits@mas.wrong.tools)'s status on Tuesday, 18-Mar-2025 17:40:11 JST Crystal Huff (they/them)

     in reply to

     Matt has a couple of questions from the abutters, who want to know if the soil needs to be amended or addressed.

     The neighbors also want to know what'll happen to the billboard. Developer says the billboard will go away.

     Matt comments that this is really near the highway, and he'd like to see air quality control and air filtration systems in the building.

   • Embed this notice
     Crystal Huff (they/them) (crystalvisits@mas.wrong.tools)'s status on Tuesday, 18-Mar-2025 17:40:14 JST Crystal Huff (they/them)

     in reply to

     Vigorito has no interest in answering what the apartments might cost, lol. I figured she wouldn't.

     The timeline for this project is next to go to Urban Design Committee, with more refined plans. Sometime in the next 2-4 weeks. Might be 2-3 meetings with UDC. Then another neighborhood meeting, maybe a couple of months from now. Then they do the final submission to the planning department.

     They're hoping for approvals by fall and break ground in the spring, and then 14 months on construction.

   • Embed this notice
     Crystal Huff (they/them) (crystalvisits@mas.wrong.tools)'s status on Tuesday, 18-Mar-2025 17:40:18 JST Crystal Huff (they/them)

     in reply to

     The developer also talks about planning to use modular building tech for this building, which they're excited about. Tori also is excited about this idea, and something I should prob look up re Finland and modular buildings...?

   • Embed this notice
     Crystal Huff (they/them) (crystalvisits@mas.wrong.tools)'s status on Tuesday, 18-Mar-2025 17:40:22 JST Crystal Huff (they/them)

     in reply to

     (I'm going to update alt descriptions of these images after the meeting in case that's not obvious.)

   • Embed this notice
     Crystal Huff (they/them) (crystalvisits@mas.wrong.tools)'s status on Tuesday, 18-Mar-2025 17:40:30 JST Crystal Huff (they/them)

     in reply to

     Tori asks about the project being by-right. They have to get site plan approval, and MR5 needs a special permit for residential use.

     I ask again about accessibility and wheelchair turning radius. They demonstrate wheelchair turning radius in the trash room toward the middle of the floor plan, but that also makes it obvious that the rest of the apartments aren't currently wheelchair-ready.

   • Embed this notice
     Crystal Huff (they/them) (crystalvisits@mas.wrong.tools)'s status on Tuesday, 18-Mar-2025 17:40:36 JST Crystal Huff (they/them)

     in reply to

     I asked "Can you say more about the choice for only balconies on the McGrath side?"

     Developer says the balconies are somewhat to break up the building's look, but also wanted people on the residential side to not feel like people are looking down at them. The main plan is to have the roof deck/garden to be used. Balconies can also break up the efficiency of the building, so they don't want all walls to have balconies.

   • Embed this notice
     Crystal Huff (they/them) (crystalvisits@mas.wrong.tools)'s status on Tuesday, 18-Mar-2025 17:40:42 JST Crystal Huff (they/them)

     in reply to

     Matt McLaughlin steps in re the parking permit question. Citywide, we now no longer require parking on site for developments, but this project isn't within a quarter mile of public transit, so at this time, people would be able to get residential parking permits if they live in this building.

   • Embed this notice
     Crystal Huff (they/them) (crystalvisits@mas.wrong.tools)'s status on Tuesday, 18-Mar-2025 17:40:51 JST Crystal Huff (they/them)

     in reply to

     Vigorito says she doesn't know about whether the residents will be allowed to have residential parking permits from the city.

     I also support the green roof having at least 70% native plantings.

     The developer says they have a specialist engaged to help with this. The plants need to be really hardy.

   • Embed this notice
     Crystal Huff (they/them) (crystalvisits@mas.wrong.tools)'s status on Tuesday, 18-Mar-2025 17:40:56 JST Crystal Huff (they/them)

     in reply to

     Tori calls in and says she also thinks this site should be MR6 or above, and wants to increase the housing density.
     She also wants to know, if there's no parking, do residents also not get residential parking permits?
     She also wants to know if the developer will commit to native plants on the green roof that's planned for this building. Would love to see at least 70% native plants.

   • Embed this notice
     Crystal Huff (they/them) (crystalvisits@mas.wrong.tools)'s status on Tuesday, 18-Mar-2025 17:41:01 JST Crystal Huff (they/them)

     in reply to

     "Can you say more about the plan for the commercial space planned? I must’ve missed it — I thought this was fully housing, but it sounds like I missed a step and it’s mixed-use?"

     Vigorito says MR5 is commercial on the bottom and housing above. They don't know what the commercial use will be, but Broadway is a pedestrian street, so it could be a food place or something else. Professional office, whatnot. They don't plan a grocery store or cannabis shop.

   • Embed this notice
     Crystal Huff (they/them) (crystalvisits@mas.wrong.tools)'s status on Tuesday, 18-Mar-2025 17:41:06 JST Crystal Huff (they/them)

     in reply to

     Joshua asks, "Any thought to giving the fully accessible units their own parking spots to help with mobility issues?"

     Vigorito says they aren't required to have any parking.

     I followed up, "I’m not sure that answers the specific question — would the developer commit to designating one parking spot for ADA accessibility needs of the accessible units?"

     The developer says "no."

   • Embed this notice
     Crystal Huff (they/them) (crystalvisits@mas.wrong.tools)'s status on Tuesday, 18-Mar-2025 17:41:10 JST Crystal Huff (they/them)

     in reply to

     Aaron asks, "If you have to get special permits and site plan approval, why not also ask for zoning relief and go to six stories? MR6 would be fully within the city’s master plan and the broadway zoning plan, which means it wouldn't be spot zoning."

     Attorney Vigorito says basically they're not gonna go through the hassle to do that, far as I could tell.

   • Embed this notice
     Crystal Huff (they/them) (crystalvisits@mas.wrong.tools)'s status on Tuesday, 18-Mar-2025 17:41:15 JST Crystal Huff (they/them)

     in reply to

     Architect says the units will all be "universal design," and basically accessible but not specifically wheelchair-accessible. 20% of the 26 units will be affordable units, which I think he said was 5 units, and at least 1 of those units to be wheelchair-accessible and affordable.

   • Embed this notice
     Crystal Huff (they/them) (crystalvisits@mas.wrong.tools)'s status on Tuesday, 18-Mar-2025 17:41:19 JST Crystal Huff (they/them)

     in reply to

     We are already at question time! I asked, I would like to know how many of the units will be wheelchair-accessible, and of those, how many will be accessible AND also affordable?

   • Embed this notice
     Crystal Huff (they/them) (crystalvisits@mas.wrong.tools)'s status on Tuesday, 18-Mar-2025 17:41:24 JST Crystal Huff (they/them)

     in reply to

     The architect says any residential units that have balconies have them looking out over McGrath, not the smaller residential streets behind the building. Here's the basic floorplan they're planning on.

   • Embed this notice
     Crystal Huff (they/them) (crystalvisits@mas.wrong.tools)'s status on Tuesday, 18-Mar-2025 17:41:29 JST Crystal Huff (they/them)

     in reply to

     Site plan approval is required for residential use, from what I can tell. The plan is for residents to be carless, so the parking is only for commercial dropoffs, deliveries, ride shares.

     Here's the basic look at the plot.

   • Embed this notice
     Crystal Huff (they/them) (crystalvisits@mas.wrong.tools)'s status on Tuesday, 18-Mar-2025 17:41:33 JST Crystal Huff (they/them)

     in reply to

     Vigorito begins by saying the old gas station there prob hasn't been in use for 15 years. The plot is zoned MR5, which means it's allowed to be 5 stories by right.
     20% of the units of this building will be deeded affordable housing, per the city law on inclusionary zoning.

     26 total units, mostly studios or 1 bedrooms with offices, ~600 to 650 sq ft.

     Not required to have any parking, but will have 3 spaces for commercial use & delivery vehicles & ride shares.

   • Embed this notice
     Crystal Huff (they/them) (crystalvisits@mas.wrong.tools)'s status on Tuesday, 18-Mar-2025 17:41:37 JST Crystal Huff (they/them)

     in reply to

     This site is at the corner of Broadway and McGrath, a former gas station. It's across from the Foss Park (owned by MA state). It has been kinda awful and derelict for ages. The only nice thing, IMO, has been the "NOT ART" paintings on it. (I do not support the Trump-oriented politician who advertises on this site.)

     Meeting will start in 2 minutes.

   • Embed this notice
     Crystal Huff (they/them) (crystalvisits@mas.wrong.tools)'s status on Tuesday, 18-Mar-2025 17:41:42 JST Crystal Huff (they/them)

     Tonight, a super-local meeting for #SomervilleMA -- a development proposal for 205 Broadway in Ward 1.

     Meeting is hosted by Councilor Matt McLaughlin. Anne Vigorito is the attorney rep for the developer, Prospect Commons LLC.

     Flyer and joining link here: https://www.somervillema.gov/events/2025/03/17/neighborhood-meeting-205-broadway

     #MAPoli #SomerPoli #Housing