Pemberton Market to be demolished and rebuilt

[ron_newman]

I received the following announcment from a Porter Square mailing list. Note that this is the "old" Pemberton Market at Mass. Ave. and Rindge Ave., not the "new" Pemberton Farms at Mass. Ave. and Day Street.

North Cambridge Stabilization Committee will address this project at their August 9 meeting. (2050 Mass. Ave, 7 to 9PM)
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The property owners hope to demolish the one-story Pemberton Market & Liquors building and replace it with a four-story structure that includes enclosed parking for 15 vehicles. The retail market would occupy the new ground-floor storefront, and the upper floors would consist of 15 one- and two-bedroom condominiums.

Consultant Linda Haar (formerly chief planner for the Boston Redevelopment Authority) will join us to present the proposal and take questions and comments. As currently envisioned, the project would be denser in terms of the number of condos, more massive in terms of floor space and height setbacks, and taller than city zoning regulations allow without a hardship variance.
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Here's a link to the project Web site, which is still under construction.

http://www.pembertoncorner.com/

Comments

[ellf.livejournal.com]

On the project page, there is a bit more detail in regards to intent: "It was determined that it is not economically feasible or physically practical to restore [the existing building]. The building is approaching the end of its useful life cycle, and the condition of the building is beginning to hamper the business.

In order to continue active uses on this site, consistent with the goals of the Massachusetts Avenue Overlay District, the Mudarri-Eisele family is proposing the Pemberton Corner Project. The project would provide new ground floor retail market space for Pemberton Market; fifteen residential condominiums with on-site parking. It will be an architectural asset to Massachusetts Avenue and continue to provide pedestrian amenities and enhance pedestrian activity. It will strive to be as environmentally 'green' a project as possible in an urban setting, having bicycle lockers, an environmentally friendly parking system, and using construction materials that match the LEED standards of priorities to recycled materials and low volatility products."

Bicyle lockers, recycling, trees, and a green building all sound pretty good to me.

[ron_newman]

All sounds great to me so far. If I lived on the Cambridge side of the line, I'd likely support it at the local meeting.