Development plans near Teele Square

[fishkiss56.livejournal.com]

Looks like they're starting over with the Powderhouse School site:
http://somerville.wickedlocal.com/article/20140410/NEWS/140419666

and that there's something in the works for the corner of Broadway and Clarendon:
http://somerville.wickedlocal.com/article/20140416/NEWS/140417023

Comments

[surrealestate.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the links. I've been wondering when something would happen at the Teele Square site. But Peter Quinn Architects... They're the ones who did the monstrosity at the corner of Summer/Elm and Cutter, right?

[hikermtnbiker.livejournal.com]

+1 this, surrealestate. I was just about to say this looking at the design. This seems to have many of the same elements.

[pixelsand.livejournal.com]

I don't like the building in Davis either but it's hard to tell by the render if the elements that make that building feel so cold will be present here. Ultimately what's more important than how it looks is how the building is used. If there is some kind of cafe/bar or other public space (perhaps that plaza that faces Clarendon will be patio seating), it will be a huge plus for the square. A big problem with the Davis building is that it has no retail in it, the Rosebud has been closed for a while and there's a surface lot across the street. There is simply no reason for a pedestrian to go there and being at the edge of the square not many pass through relative to other parts of Davis.

[jicama]

Aren't the ground floor areas of the Davis building intended as retail?

[pixelsand.livejournal.com]

it seems like they should be but I don't recall seeing anything there. It might be offices, though come to think of it I'm not even sure if that building is occupied yet.

[ron_newman]

Yes, but they have yet to be rented. They are currently vacant.

[somerfriend.livejournal.com]

Keep in mind the architect's design is driven by the client...

[spatch]

"Yes, I'd like an impersonal building made of cold glass and even colder brick, one which will completely not fit in with the neighborhood around it except in that it has walls, windows and a roof," said nobody, ever.

[somerfriend.livejournal.com]

Sometimes at public meetings about new buildings there is a guy (usually a guy) that stridently complains about the style of the design. Someone that complains about it not fitting in. My perspective is usually that what we have isn't super amazing. My midwestern sensibilities don't generally allow me to say this out loud, but fitting into a bunch of blah vinyl sided triple deckers isn't something to strive for, let alone the fact that I don't agree that modern design is bad. Individual sites and owners, esp the one in Davis Square that was referred to, come with their own baggage that clouds the issue.

[pixelsand.livejournal.com]

I don't know the history of the Davis site and I don't have any training in architecture but it's easy to see by looking at that building why it's so problematic. The color and materials are just flat out cold looking. The massing is awkward and overactive, a very weird mix of styles. From some angles it even looks like a giant gable colonial, except devoid of any of the charm normally associated with that style (owing to materials). In terms of curb appeal to a potential resident, it does not look like an inviting place live. On top of that you have the awkward retail space, which juts far onto the sidewalk, pushing pedestrians out onto the street. There are nice big windows but no room to admire them from the street as you are walking by. I don't know what kind of business can be expected to succeed here. Davis is pretty well represented by restaurants, bars, boutiques, thrift shops etc. Whose gonna walk all the way to the edge of the square to patronize something here when there are so many other options?

Then on top off all that you have that massive American flag, which gives off the impression of the crushing power of the state, which kinda says it all. It basically feels like a giant bank vault, which is probably the only business I can see working here. With Winter Hill and Citizens right near by it's not like the area needs another but might as well stick 'em all in the same place. Of course like I said, I don't know the history of the place. Maybe the way the parcel works is the only way that residential plus retail can work here. It's still amazing to me how lousy the building is. Compare it to the one in Teele Square, above Soul Train. There is nothing especially fancy about that place but some simply color/massing differences seems to make a huge difference, it's like night and day. I do think that's a bigger parcel but I just find it hard to believe this building was the best the developer could do.

All that said I agree with your point about buildings not needing to fit in with the area. While there are some nice houses in the area the strength of Davis is not in it's architecture but more it's layout. I don't mind developers taking risks with new styles but if the end result is more buildings like the one being discussed here I might have to change that view. More than anything the area needs housing and density - I'd be much happier with more inoffensive buildings like the one in Teele than some architect trying to be "edgy" and just failing miserably.

[ron_newman]

This corner location was most recently a one-story Enterprise rental car office, and before that a gas station.

ETA: oops, I forgot they also tore down an adjoining house on Cutter Ave.