Mystic View Task Force has succeeded. IKEA is building in Avon, not Somerville.

[hauntmeister.livejournal.com]

The Mystic View Task Force's relentless barrage of lawsuits has evidently succeeded in making IKEA decide to build in Avon instead.

Mystic View's constantly shifting rationalizations for opposing the development of the abandoned Assembly Square site have been changing as frequently as Mr. Bush's justifications for invading Iraq. Mediation attempts between Mystic View and the developers collapsed last month, with the mediators reporting that the parties were too far apart in their viewpoints. As a result of the mediation failure, the state will not provide funding for a T stop on the site, and it appears that IKEA will build elsewhere.

Somerville loses tax revenue, and the Assembly Square plot will remain a weed-strewn vacant wasteland. Thanks so much, Bill Shelton and the rest of Mystic View Task Force! You're managed the amazing task of turning gold into lead, and all Somerville knows who's responsible.

Comments

[blowtorch-betty.livejournal.com]

Is anyone else concerned about the impact of thousands of additional cars pumping their exhaust into Somerville's air?

I was initially quite excited about the prospect of having an Ikea but after being filled in on many of the details my enthusiams waned.

While I think Ikea would be good for the local economy it might not be so great for the local residents. I don't live in the immediate area of the proposed site but if I did I'd be pretty unhappy about the idea.

[hauntmeister.livejournal.com]

Is anyone else concerned about the impact of thousands of additional cars pumping their exhaust into Somerville's air?

That was, in fact, one of Mystic View's original complaints. They eventually dropped their objection on that score when it was variously pointed out that...

having an IKEA here would reduce or eliminate many long road trips to their out-of-state stores, for a global net reduction in emissions.

there would be a T stop on the location and that IKEA would offer delivery (though with a service charge, while Mystic View wanted free delivery)

Mystic View's own plans for the site involved 30,000 workers in office buildings on the location. This would be more traffic by far than IKEA would generate, and it would be concentrated at weekday rush hour, unlike IKEA's typical traffic pattern which is mid-day and weekends.

[blowtorch-betty.livejournal.com]

Mm. Very interesting.