Related to SS Building issues

[emcicle.livejournal.com]

I just noticed in the Boston Globe article about the structural issues of the Social Security building this morning that it states that Roche Brothers has pulled out of moving into that space. That's the first I've heard about it falling through, and I'll be disappointed if it's true.

Comments

[mzrowan.livejournal.com]

I'm guessing the problem is that there's not much the city can do if the owner of a building just lets it sit there and rot. (See the former dance hall near Powderhouse.) They can eventually take it over, as they did with a couple of abandoned houses near Ball Square, but I imagine that's a lengthy and difficult legal process.

[keithn.livejournal.com]

The city is a big part of the reason why the building is rotting. The owner of the building made a reasonable proposal almost two years ago for Beer Works and Crunch Gym to go into that space. Alderman Gewirtz and the ZBA (at her urging I suspect) launched some astroturfed opposition to the proposal and made it clear that nothing aside from an organic/locally sourced grocery store would be acceptable. During this whole process the owner of the building has had to maintain and pay taxes on a building not generating any income due to the city's stonewalling.

It finally looked like the city was going to get its wish, but now that has fallen through and we're back to square one.

Nobody is clean here, but the city has got to stop trying to dictate exactly how every piece of private property in the city is going to be used. This whole situation is precisely what happens when local governments try to do this.

[josephineave.livejournal.com]

Wasn't one of the reasons BBW was turned down was that they didn't want to buy their liquor license on the open market, but wanted one of the special ones that the city had received that would usually be used for a smaller business?

[keithn.livejournal.com]

In short, that was BS. The argument was actually that the "special" ones were reserved for "economic development" and that Davis Square didn't qualify. They ended up granting one a few months later to the Korean restaurant that replaced McDonalds, in Davis Square, so it was a BS argument. I wrote a long comment about this at the time:

http://davis-square.livejournal.com/3314035.html?thread=35879539#t35879539

Another related comment I made in the same thread:

http://davis-square.livejournal.com/3314035.html?thread=35893875#t35893875

[jbsegal.livejournal.com]

Fuck you, astroturfed. I've lived around Davis for >12 years* now and I sure didn't want BBW or Crunch there.
Also: "organic/locally sourced grocery store" doesn't describe Roche Bros as near as I know.
ETA: Reading further down the thread, ok, the Brothers Marketplace concept might well fit that description.

(* I expect to be priced out of the neighborhood in the next <5 years.)

[ron_newman]

what's wrong with Crunch as a second-floor tenant above Roche Bros? I expect it would have zero impact on anyone who isn't a customer of theirs.

Brothers Marketplace doesn't have much of a web site, but they do have an active Facebook page.

[dougo.livejournal.com]

The owner of that former dance hall near Powderhouse (in which I rent an apartment) claims he has been tied up with zoning issues (and worse). He's not just letting it sit there out of disregard or laziness.

[ron_newman]

What does he want to do, and what are the zoning issues that are preventing him from doing it?

I'd love to see that become a live music venue (but I don't know if you do; how's the soundproofing?)

[dougo.livejournal.com]

I'd rather not speak for him, and I believe he doesn't want to comment publicly. I just wanted to point out that not every vacant building is due to a negligent landlord.

[prunesnprisms.livejournal.com]

Is the rest of the building sound? It looks derelict from the outside.

[dougo.livejournal.com]

The concrete steps out front took a beating from the snow & salt this winter, but the building itself is fine. About a third of the ground floor was demolished to make room for off-street parking, which I believe would be required by zoning laws for whatever ends up downstairs. I think the rest of the ground floor is mostly gutted, but I've never been down there. The apartments on the 2nd & 3rd floors are old but nice. I've lived here happily for 6 years.