Alderman Seeks Action on 'Dilapidated' Former Club
"The whole building just feels like it's coming apart," said Ward 6 Alderman Rebekah Gewirtz.
In February we asked readers what they thought should fill the vacant Cabot Farms catering building at 882 Broadway, near the Powder House Rotary.
For those who don't know the building, it used to be a club, catering business and function hall, and it has a sort of retro look. It's also been boarded up for years.
Now, Ward 6 Alderman Rebekah Gewirtz would like the city's Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development to see if the building can be categorized as "blighted."
Speaking at a Board of Aldermen meeting July 12, Gewirtz said of the building, "It is completely dilapidated and run down."
She said there's a "rusted out awning over the public way" and added, "The whole building just feels like it's coming apart, and it's high time that the owners of that building … if they don't want to do something about it, then they should sell it to somebody else who will, because I guarantee you somebody would want to come in there and build something beautiful that would benefit the entire neighborhood."
"I want to see if it's considered a blight on the neighborhood," the Alderman said.
Some Patch readers, responding to our February question, wanted to see the building turned into a music venue. Others felt it should be put to residential use. There are some apartments in the building already.
Ron Newman
9:36 am on Tuesday, July 17, 2012
This would be a great place for a live music club.
Jonathan Buck
10:02 am on Tuesday, July 17, 2012
I would love to see the city force the owners hand on this as it is such a great space. I agree that a live music venue similar to Club Passim in Cambridge would be an ideal way to fill the space, but anything is better than the rotting away exterior I drive by twice a day now.
Scott
10:07 am on Tuesday, July 17, 2012
This place is SO unusual. It's like some weird, haunted nightclub from the 1940's you'd see featured in a Cohen Bros. movie or something. I wish this could be made back into a retro-ballroom (I swear, I would get in shape and go there just to swing dance!), but I doubt that's feasible. Anyway, I have mixed feelings about seeing it go. If any building in Somerville could be classified as a ghost, I think it would be this one in my opinion.
Mary Ellen O'Reilly Powers
11:09 am on Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Agreed!! On all counts.
Courtney O'Keefe
10:50 am on Tuesday, July 17, 2012
My Aunt had her wedding reception here.
LSG
2:29 pm on Tuesday, July 17, 2012
This one and the Round House are two of Somerville's best.