Last week, Copper Mill hosted a new meeting about their proposed 500-home mixed-use apartment building in Davis Square. With a capacity crowd at the Crystal Ballroom and hundreds more attendees viewing online, CEO Andrew Flynn laid out some new and familiar information about the proposal, including:
A commitment to union labor
25% of the apartments set aside as subsidized , up from the 20% city minimum
Subsidized retail rents for local businesses
Revised retail floorplans that maximize retail space
Off-street loading zones to address traffic concerns
Guaranteed return for The Burren and Dragon Pizza
Regardless, the crowd was hostile. As Flynn tried to call on raised hands, others shouted criticism. Pro-development commenters were heckled for “playing softball” and being “paid shills,” and when Flynn noted that the meeting was running up against its 9 p.m. end time, several people yelled at him to shut up.
Flynn also noted the current status of the buildings in question: these structures are facing decades of deferred maintenance and general wear, and are close to the end of their useful lives. The former Sligo site is legally uninhabitable, and none of the properties are up to code: any business hoping to open in one of the current vacant retail spaces would need to make enormous investments for plumbing, electrical, and accessibility, some of which might not even be possible given the constraints of the building itself. Preservation of the status quo, in other words, is impossible: alternatives are redevelopment or further decay.
The next several months will help decide the future of Davis Square, and we need to show our support for housing and development. If you live nearby or are a Davis Square stakeholder in any other way, make sure your voice is heard by visiting davissquarenc.org/membership and signing up as a voting member in advance of next month’s board elections.
Upcoming Events
April 2: Land Use Committee meeting — Agenda will include backyard cottages and the city’s regulations on affordable housing. 6:30 pm, online via Zoom.
April 3: Somerville YIMBY Monthly Social — We’d love to see you in person! 6:00 pm, in person at Remnant Brewing, Bow Market.
April 8: Somerville YIMBY Monthly Meeting — Agenda will include elections, Copper Mill, dormers, and general upzoning. 6:00 pm, online via Zoom.
April 16: Land Use/Planning Board joint meeting — Agenda TBA. 6:30 pm, online via Zoom.
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