Will new Assembly Square impact DS?

[el-cubano-15.livejournal.com]

Things keep rolling as AS:

http://www.boston.com/yourtown/news/somerville/2013/05/photos_groundbreaking_at_assem.html

I like walking to DS w/ my family, but a new park, movies, restaurants, etc. all along the water will likely mean fewer visits to DS once the complex is complete.

Comments

[somerfriend.livejournal.com]

Not a zero sum game.

[mindstalk.livejournal.com]

If only there were some handy transit option for getting from one side to the other.

[mjrocks98.livejournal.com]

I won't be going to Assembly Square any more than I have to - it already drives me nuts driving there. I'll continue going to Davis for most things. I really only go to Assembly about once a month and don't see that changing. Plus I love Somerville Theatre and don't go to AMC unless someone gives me free movie passes to there (actually I got 4 free movie passes for AMC at work 2 years ago and still have 3 left).

[amy-s1.livejournal.com]

I doubt it will impact Davis. I don't see DS resident going there often in leu of what is already in the square, especially since you have to drive. If the red line went there it may be a different story. To me, Assembly Row feels like more of an extension of downtown Boston than a part of Somerville.

[treacle-well.livejournal.com]

I haven't lived within super easy walking/commuting distance of DS in over a year now, though I do venture in occasionally. My current transit options make it much easier for me to get to Assembly Square, so once there is a "new" Assembly Square, I'm more likely to go there, but I won't be going to Davis Square any less often than I currently do.

[ron_newman]

The Assembly Square Orange Line station is under active construction and should be open within the next 2 years.

[ron_newman]

The Assembly Square Orange Line station is under active construction and should be open within the next 2 years.

(Until then, there's the #90 bus from Davis or Wellington)

[mindstalk.livejournal.com]

That's cool, but I was thinking more about a way to get from Orange Line territory to Red Line without having to go through downtown or look up the schedule of an infrequent bus. Basically an instance of the general "Boston transit is very radial or hub-and-spoke" complaint.

[mindstalk.livejournal.com]

DS residents wouldn't go there... but people from central and eastern Somerville who go to DS for lack of closer interesting options might.

[wintahill.livejournal.com]

I am certainly excited to see the progress on construction now taking place at Assembly Sq. But, even though there have been announcements and commitments by various restaurants and stores to open there it is still too early to say I think. The only part of the new development actually open for business at this time is Burger Dive. Once more new businesses open up in the area it would be easier to get a feel for how successful the overall project will be.

I do agree that people in central and east Somerville will be more likely to frequent the area than people closest to Davis Sq, just based on proximity. I also agree that connectivity to Assembly Sq is not great by car, foot, bike, or public transit when compared to Davis Sq. The new orange line station will definitely help, but that would make access easier mostly for people in Malden, Medford and Downtown Boston.

I will still go to Davis Sq as frequently as I do now I believe, but I can also see myself spending a lot more time in Assembly Sq then I do now if the right mix of bars, restaurants and shops really does materialize there.

[beinneighe.livejournal.com]

I would wager that the bus schedules will be revised (at least a little) once this thing launches.

[bluesauce.livejournal.com]

*yawn* Unless it's all local cruelty-free local organic local-owned local locavore things, I doubt Somerville's interested in it.

[el-cubano-15.livejournal.com]

Not everyone is interested in all of that...

In any event, I expect that it will be very popular with people from the surrounding communities as well.

[littlecitynames.livejournal.com]

The 90 runs every 40 minutes at its most frequent on weekdays. On weekends, it's less than once an hour. Not entirely useless, but close.

[prunesnprisms.livejournal.com]

This.

[prunesnprisms.livejournal.com]

I live in DS and work within a half mile of Assembly Row. We are already walking to Burger Dive for lunch because it's new and different. I imagine I will spend a lot of time there, but it won't impact time or money I would otherwise spend in DS because it's time and money I would otherwise have spent in Everett or Medford.

I'm excited to have both in the city!

[miss-chance.livejournal.com]

The only type of retail spaces they will be creating will be so large that only chain stores and chain restaurants will be able to afford them. No small or independent business could move there.

The kind of people who think that Davis would be better if only we had a $CHAINSTORE and MORE PARKING will drive their cars to Assembly Square in a sort of automotive home-coming. The people who like small indy shops will not mourn the loss of the bids for more chain stores and the complaints about not being able to drive a car into a pedestrian hub.

[lizzielizzie.livejournal.com]

There will also be a weekly arts market over there, starting May 18th, from 11AM to 4PM. It runs through September. http://www.assemblyrow.com/events/

[closetalker11.livejournal.com]

What else is supposed to be going in there?