This week on Somerville Neighborhood News, we feature the story on “197 Washington Street Project Reaches First Building Goal.” Construction at 197 Washington Street is moving along. A topping off ceremony was held recently to commemorate the progress of the project. Once the building is complete, it will house thirty new condominiums. A state-of-the-art fitness center and a roof top solar lounge with incredible skyline views are also included in the construction plans. Luxury amenities come with a price. The one to two bedroom units have an asking price between $449,000 and $660,000.

For Michael Glavin, Director of the Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development, the 197 project is just one piece of the Union Square development puzzle, “We have a combination of things happening here. We have Cathartis building this privately funded, private development, welcoming new neighbors– new people that may be coming to Union Square– to Somerville for the first time.”

While the topping off of the condominium building was the focal point of the event, the construction of affordable housing taking place next door, was also in the spotlight.

The Somerville Community Corporation is developing the site of the former Boys and Girls Club at 181 Washington Street into 35 rental units of workforce and affordable housing. Glavin touched upon the unity of the two projects, “We have next door, the Somerville Community Corporation building a project that’s similar and was designed in a comprehensive way so that they will be welcoming new tenants and local residents in affordable housing right next door; so this together really brings the best of both worlds.”

The Director of Real Estate for the Somerville Community Corporation, Scott Hayman, also attended the event and provided the latest update on the affordable housing construction. “Next door we’re doing great,” Hayman said. “We’re a little behind [197 Washington Street], which was somewhat by design… they’ve been fantastic partners, we got our zoning approvals together. We share a contractor in Delbrook.”

The affordable housing units are currently under construction and if all goes according to plan they should be ready for occupancy by Spring 2016.

Hayman also elaborated on what the pricing of the affordable housing is going to be. “Ours is actually going to be rental housing, so, it’ll be very affordable– geared to people in Somerville who earn up to about 60% of the area meeting income.”

These projects working in tandem can serve as a model as Union Square redevelopment plans seek to create needed housing at both market and affordable rates. Somerville Neighborhood News is a production of Somerville Community Access Television, made by professional journalists, volunteers and staff. The half-hour news show has as its mission to provide a lively, informative newscast focusing on the events, issues and information impacting Somerville residents.

You can watch Somerville Neighborhood News every Tuesday at 7pm on SCATV Ch.3 or online at www.somervilleneighborhoodnews.org.