By Joe Creason

The Urban Design Commission met on June 22 to review and discuss plans for upcoming developments and projects within the city.

A high-rise development is being constructed right off of the bustling thoroughfare at 15 McGrath Highway. Plans for this development, managed by real estate firm Leggat McCall Properties, have been reviewed by the commission before and adjustments were made with the intention of bringing a smooth transition as well as a pedestrian feel to the highway-attached development.

“The facade and overall feeling that it gives to the building is an improvement from the last time we saw this design,” said acting Commission member Tim Talun.

Changes to the design include fins and accent panels, which the developer says lends to the concept of motion in the facade. A large offset square “jewel box” resting on the face of the building, is now set to be wrapped in vertical fins with a worn copper finish to give a slightly warmer impression.

Some components of the building’s final design are still subject to change depending on the status of other projects in the surrounding area.

“We’ve recently received plans from MassDOT regarding their improvements for McGrath Highway but we still need to wait for an adjusted permitting process before moving forward,” said Development Manager at Leggat McCall Properties Michael Gerhardt.

The shifting plans concerning McGrath Highway have impacted the surrounding community and will continue to impact the outcome of the development.

“Depending on the specifics of the renovation MassDOT will undertake, how this site will be accessed vehicularly, will probably be different from what we see on the site plans today,” said Director of Planning Sarah Lewis.

McGrath is commonly referred to as a difficult location for free-flowing foot traffic. “I was out there the other day and it really is brutal for pedestrians,” Gerhardt said.

The commission cautioned the developers on the business presence of the roadway and the public use of the planted buffer zone on the highway by many, including bus commuters at the McGrath stop, which is located directly in front of the development.

“We’re really trying to have a welcoming pedestrian area when they walk on to the property,” Gerhardt said. “Knowing that however MassDOT decides to configure McGrath, it is still going to be a very busy street, so were trying to heavy up the elements and planting to create a dense protection area for a pedestrian plaza.”

The Design commission moved to make no further design recommendations to the 15 McGrath development.

The focus of the meeting was a project of much smaller scale.

“What we’re doing is a little backyard cottage,” said the architect for the project on 59 Albion St.

The architect has been working with clients who own the property at 59 Albion St. for the past three years. Last year, a severely structurally compromised barn was removed in spite of attempts to save the structure and deliberation from the historical association. The owners now plan to replace the old barn with a new recreation structure. “We’re using some influences from modern barnyard aesthetics and something that would be fun,” the 59 Albion architect said.

After presenting the design plan and layout in proportion to the rest of the lot, the commission had positive comments as well as critiques to offer. “It doesn’t seem like the friendliest facade to expose to the neighbors. I can imagine that the old barn had something a little nicer, so I hope there’s a way to do something a little bit better than the concrete facade,” said Commission member Andrew Arbaugh, who said this in reference to the eight-foot-high concrete wall modeled at the back facade in the new barn design.

“The backyard cottage itself is not commercial. It is not planned to be used as a residence or a rental or anything,” the 59 Albion architect said. “It is strictly for recreational use for the owners.”

The owners of 59 Albion St. bought the home six years ago and plan on keeping the property as a long-term residence where they can raise their two children.