The “new” proposal by Copper Mill includes a proposed structure that is 24 stories, down from 26 stories. Those are on top of the existing retail floors. And, yes, 24 stories for Davis Square is unquestionably still too high. The structure violates Mass Housing’s Chapter 40B design guidelines, and the project undercuts Somerville’s plans set out in Somervision 2040. As for more housing in the Davis Square Neighborhood, sites such as 110 Willow St. and 363 Highland Ave., plus the Copper Mill lot, with a 6-story building in each, can provide more than 500 units, with at least 125 being affordable — all easily accessible to the T stations in Porter, Ball and Davis squares.
The Copper Mill financial projections for the 26-story proposal filed with Mass Housing seem unattainable. The $22 million rent projection reflects rents per square foot that are 13% to 41% higher than comparables identified in the developer’s Mass Housing Chapter 40B application, as detailed in written comments filed in February with Mass Housing to the discordant 40B application.
The developer’s rental projections appear to be driven by a proposed $42 million purchase price for 0.78 acres that are currently assessed at $8.6 million. That raises a state public policy question of whether Mass Housing’s scarce financial resources should be used to buy property at an inflated value.
What Somerville doesn’t need is a project of this size and impact on Davis Square nor one that could well be financially struggling or fail. That said, Somerville needs more housing, both affordable and market rate.
Edward Woll / Winslow Avenue, Somerville
Member, Davis Square Village and Davis Square Neighborhood Council
A stronger
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Davis doesn’t need another decade of performative “planning” while rents soar.
Copper Mill is 500 new homes, 25% affordable, on top of a Red Line station, built with union labor and no new parking crater.
If we say no to height here, we’re not “saving” the square. Instead,we’re locking in displacement and car‑dependence while turning away exactly the kind of dense, transit‑oriented, climate‑aligned housing every other city wishes it had.
Destroying Davis Square for the YIMBY panic narrative is the height of performative theater. Somerville does its share as the densest city in the northeast. Affordability is the issue not adding 325 luxury tower units to enrich a developer and its REIT.
The multi-headed problems of Davis Square require an updated plan with mid-rise structures.
I do not think that Somerville community planning has been performative or disingenuous over the past 14 years. Somervision 2020/2030/2040 is a succession of comprehensive plans for how the city should prosper and grow. Every neighborhood has been studied and neighborhood plans developed in concert with Somervision. What is notable is that in every case, Union and Assembly squares included, the core areas do not have towers. They consistently envision a human scale of development.
The Somvervision map defines 3 types of development areas: transform, enhance and conserve. Davis Square is identified as a local center under the “areas to enhance” guidance. That is reinforced by the current zoning map limiting height in the Davis Square core to 4 stories. One might protest and proclaim this all moot, but that undermines the entire Somerville community planning process by which we reach decisions by consensus. We should not trash the process or the results of these efforts and instead concentrate on growth that does not blowup the neighborhood.
As the Somerville YIMBY tag line proclaims: ” yes in my backyard is a group of Somerville residents advocating for smart growth that benefits everyone.” That seems like a reasonable place to start. A tower in this location is not beneficial to everyone and is smart like a Trojan horse.