One Davis Square's hideous rear wall

[ron_newman]

Over the past few years, I recall numerous Davis Square Task Force meetings about the new One Davis Square. The developer, city officials, and the assembled citizens discussed the building's height, the front facade, the windows, the CVS, the gym, the lack of parking .... everything except the rear wall.

Somehow I assumed that the red brick on the front and sides would carry over to the back. Probably everyone else thought that, too. Unfortunately, I was wrong. The back wall is totally blank and windowless, and appears to be made of white cinderblock.



(Photo is from the Somerville Journal's blog.)

Comments

[mrf-arch.livejournal.com]

If the rear wall is the property line, these not a lot of incentive to spend money on it - brick facing is expensive, and if there's likely to be development next door in short order, why pay a premium for something that's going to be covered up?

As many other people have mentioned, Somerville has a tremendous arts community that would love a big blank surface to work with. And barring that, I'm sure the wall would make an excellent billboard. :-)