(no subject)

[jamiesquared.livejournal.com]

I tried to find out more information about what is going on with the building where Wicked Good Coffee was next door to the Chinese Restaurant that had the fire. Apparently it has been marked as unsafe for awhile now. There is a development company working there currently gutting it out. I found them online http://www.thornburygroup.com/ and it appears they specialize in luxury condos/condos/construction. Do you guys think they are building condos over there (we dont need them)? I sent an email to the company but I havent heard back.

Comments

[ron_newman]

I'd hate to see retail business replaced by condos. Does your alderman (Bob Trane) know anything more?

[jamiesquared.livejournal.com]

Oh good idea! I live right next door to the Tranes.

[makoshark.livejournal.com]

Post here when you find out. I'm sure others would like to know as well.

[m00n.livejournal.com]

I'd also hate to see that. What I *wouldn't* mind, however, would be to see some lower-end condos (which teachers, etc. could easily afford) built *on top of* the commercial space, so that we can have both!

[http://users.livejournal.com/_mattt/]

I'm curious as to why we don't need condos?

Unless there is a huge vacancy problem with the existing condo buildings, I don't see a problem. I am inclined to believe there is some demand for them based on the number they are building.

[jamiesquared.livejournal.com]

Well considering the ugly luxury condos they built a few blocks away on the exact same road STILL havent sold since last year (I am pretty sure its been at least a year that they have been done) I doubt we need more.

[chumbolly.livejournal.com]

What's that maxim; location, location, location? I'd say building "luxury condos" next to public housing was heroically optimistic (read: folly) on the developer's part. The failure of those condos to sell does not indicate a glut of condos. When people earning teachers' salaries no longer complain of being priced out of Somerville, then perhaps we'll have a glut, but certainly not now.

[jamiesquared.livejournal.com]

Are we talking about the same condos? The condos I am talking about arent next to public housing. I think you mean the ones closer to Johnnys Foormaster or am I wrong?

[thetathx1138.livejournal.com]

You are incorrect, the 1188 Broadway condos are literally around the corner from an SHA development.

However, your correspondent is also wrong about nobody living there. At least a few of those condos have, in fact, been sold. That said I wouldn't be investing in that developer any time soon.

[jamiesquared.livejournal.com]

I was unaware of the public housing around the corner.

I wasnt clear enough. Yes, a couple have been sold but primarily not. They have been sitting on the market for at least 6+ months.

[t4e-ds.livejournal.com]

I live in the area and the public housing in no way makes the neighborhood rough or unsafe. 1188 Broadway, in particular, is just a 3-4 minute walk from Teele so I don't believe location is the problem. I'm guessing the issue is price. I believe they start at $469K which makes it a hard sell in a down market.

[prunesnprisms.livejournal.com]

Ugh, the 1188 Broadway condos. Each time we've been to look at them there's something else wrong, from the elevator that tries to kill you to weird ceiling leaks the realtor lies about.

[thetathx1138.livejournal.com]

They also had a broken window on one of the Broadway-facing condos for a while.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_mattt/]

It's a shame as those are otherwise such nice condos. Every time I drive past them, I think what a terrible folly on the developer's part.

[dominika-kretek.livejournal.com]

Every time I drive past them, I laugh at how ugly and ridiculous they are.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_mattt/]

I'm not exaclty sure what makes them ugly and ridiculous... That is, if we're talking about the same ones (the ones across the street from the Foodmaster).

[jamiesquared.livejournal.com]

As I said above I think some people are referring to the ones closer to Johnnys. The ones I meant are closer to Teele...if you are driving to Teele they are the ugly creamy colored ones on the right.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_mattt/]

Oh, those. The one's near the Foodmaster are pretty good for a main street, IMO, as far as Condos go. It's just sad they are in such a terrible location.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_mattt/]

Well, I can't speak to the aesthetics, and the real estate market is still depressed, but a developer may still envision a future need.

[jamiesquared.livejournal.com]

Oh I know for a fact developers are buying up properties. My husband is a plumbing/heating contractor and all he does is remodels, no service. All the developers he does work for are buying up insane amounts of properties. I just think that the location needs something other than more living space. I miss the coffee shop a lot. I hope the person below is correct that the space is in fact small enough they will keep it retail.

[ukelele.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I gotta figure any place where housing regularly sells for around a half million has unmet demand.

[ron_newman]

It's not so much that I'm against condos, but I'd like to preserve relatively low-end commercial space.

[malconstant.livejournal.com]

It looks like they're rebuilding the interior of the building, which leads me to believe it is going to be retail space again. It's way too small for a condo.

[ilai]

I've been hoping that they'll finish the interior soon, since that'll be one more takeout place that's close by. I miss when it used to be Sesame....

[thetathx1138.livejournal.com]

Um, turning it into condos would involve a lot more than gutting the building and knocking them over.

[jamiesquared.livejournal.com]

Hey, Im not a construction expert...hence why I asked :)

[obie119.livejournal.com]

I wish Sesame would come back - that was a great place. It was good as Szechuan Bay too, but I really liked Sesame.

development

[tdinmich.livejournal.com]

My girlfriend went over to take a look at what they were doing and she spoke briefly with the woman who owns the building. She said that they are just clearing the space so that they can bring in potential businesses to take a look. I really hope they can put something there, it's an eye-sore right now and I'd be happy to patronize anything that close.

Re: development

[jamiesquared.livejournal.com]

Awesome!! Thanks for the update :)