Block 9 of Assembly Row remains in planning stages.

By Cathleen Twardzik

The Assembly Row development team held a virtual neighborhood meeting on Wednesday, August 21, at 6:00 p.m.

“In this meeting, the development team will present the conceptual design(s) for Block 9 at Assembly Row. There will be an opportunity to discuss ideas and feedback. The development team will respond to this session when preparing the site plan application to be considered by the Somerville Planning Board,” according to the meeting notice.

What might be the future of block 9? “What we’re proposing is an eight-story building,” said Sarah Forde Rogers, Senior Director of Development at Federal Realty.

Importantly, “Block 9 will add approximately 318 units of much-needed housing, which will further enliven our growing, mixed-use neighborhood at Assembly Row. Block 9 will be Federal Realty’s first new building not directly on the Row. The transition of development to west of Grand Union Boulevard marks an exciting shift, as the neighborhood continues to expand,” said Forde Rogers.

“The ground floor will have 13,000 square feet of retail that we’re hoping to be able to find a daycare operator for [including a play space for the children] and then, we’ll have some residential amenities on the ground floor, such as the lobby, the leasing office, probably a fitness center [and] some work from home. The second floor will be parking, [including bike parking] and floors three through eight will be the residential [rental] units,” she said.

The 20 percent affordable housing requirement will be met, and the plan is to exceed the 2018 sustainability requirement.

Landscaping will be part of the proposed building, including the third-floor courtyard.

The main entrance (pedestrian) will be located on Harold Cohen Way, the vehicle entrance will be located on Grand Union Boulevard, and a loading entrance will be available on Auto Workers Way.

What’s the most important thing that was accomplished at the meeting and why? “Sharing our proposed plans with the community is an important part of the development process. We were excited to receive positive feedback on our proposed program and massing for Block 9 at Assembly Row,” said Forde Rogers.

“I would say – best case scenario – we’d be able to put a shovel in the ground [in the] third quarter of next year,” she said.