Major construction begins this month in Somerville at Assembly Square

On May 5, 2010, in Uncategorized, by The News Staff

~Photos courtesy
of Dewey Square
Group

State
adds $10 million to project

By George P. Hassett

Assembly Square
development has been delayed by lawsuits and political scandal in the past. But
not even the recession could stop Somerville's biggest development opportunity
this time around.

Don Briggs of Federal Realty Investment Trust, the
developers of Assembly Square, said this week that construction on Assembly
Square Drive – "the spine of the project" – will begin this month and be
completed by early next year. Construction of an Orange Line train station
begins next year, he said.

On Tuesday, state officials released $10
million in funding to support roadway improvements that will facilitate the
construction of an IKEA store.

"We're moving forward in the worst of
economic times and in the depths of a recession we're working to deliver a final
product when the market does come back," Briggs told the Somerville News as he
toured the construction site last week.

Briggs said the first wave of
construction will include retail shops, public parks and multi-family housing.
The downturn in the economy may prevent initial construction of office space, he
said.

Federal stimulus funds, about $15 million, went to build Assembly
Square Drive and more federal funding is expected for the train
station.

Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone said this week's state funding "will
allow the city of Somerville to reclaim its waterfront along the Mystic River."

"The Assembly Square project is critical to the continued growth and
vitalization of our community, placing housing, offices and retail along a
stretch of river long blocked off to our residents by highways and heavy
industry," Curtatone said in a statement.

Once completed, Assembly Square
will be a mixed-use, transit-oriented development with 18 buildings, 2,100
residential units, 1.8 million square feet of office space, 1.1 million square
feet of retail space that includes restaurants and a cinema and a 160 to 200
room hotel.

State officials said the first phase of development will
create 500 new jobs.