BOSTON–The Hamilton Company announced that it is encouraged by supportive public comments and the overall response from Somerville residents at a May 18 city-sponsored public hearing to discuss the company’s One Union Square development.
The mixed-use development will consist of a four-story office, lab, and R&D building with 200,000 sf of gross floor area and over 13,000 sf of green open space in a new publicly accessible park. New retail and restaurant spaces will be located along Somerville Avenue. Another 6,500 sf of indoor space facing the new park is designated for civic use, such as a branch library.
“Our team appreciated the opportunity to share our vision for One Union Square with the City Council, Planning Board and all the Somerville residents who attended” said Jameson Brown, Chairman and CEO of The Hamilton Company. “We look forward to continuing the dialogue and working closely with the community as our project advances through the city’s approval process. This early validation from members of the community reinforces our position that no other project, plan, or vision for Union Square meets Somerville’s planning objectives better than One Union Square.”
The May 18 public hearing was hosted by the Somerville Planning Board and the City Council’s Land Use Committee.
Elkus Manfredi Architects is leading the design of One Union Square, which will integrate Class-A office, lab and R&D space, retail, interior and exterior civic spaces, streetscape improvements, and other public amenities into the overall project design.
One Union Square is also consistent and highly compatible with the principles and objectives of transit-oriented development – helping to connect the MBTA’s Union Square Green Line Extension (GLX) station to the historic center of Union Square.
The development team projects the timetable for obtaining all city approvals and completing site plan review to be 12-18 months. Necessary approvals include a zoning amendment to allow a single building on the site by special permit. A single building allows the proposed neighborhood park to be located at Somerville Avenue and Prospect Street, where it will be most visible, active, and usable. Following approval of the proposed zoning amendment, the project will seek Site Plan Review and Special Permit approval.
“The vision we have for a vibrant, inclusive destination in Union Square is consistent with Somerville’s long-term planning goals, creating a public realm that enhances life for people living and working in the city,” said Tim Talun, Senior Associate for Elkus Manfredi. “We are encouraged by how the community is responding to this vision.”
