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Assembly Row

Sunday, May 5, 2013

Curtatone Talks Assembly Row at Groundbreaking

Somerville's mayor said progress at the large real estate development is "outstanding."

On Thursday, developers of Assembly Row held a groundbreaking ceremony for the last building of the project's first phase. Don Briggs, president of Federal Realty Investment Trust Boston, talked about the project, saying it would attract "young knowledge workers that are choosing to live in the city and be part of an urban lifestyle." (Watch here.) Somerville Mayor Joseph Curtatone also made some remarks. You can see some of them here.

Friday, May 3, 2013

First Phase of Assembly Row Hits Home Stretch

If construction continues on schedule, next spring you could be shopping at Brooks Brothers, Saks off Fifth and American Eagle—right here in Somerville.

With a groundbreaking ceremony held Thursday morning, the first phase of Assembly Row—one of the largest real estate developments on the Eastern Seaboard, according to developers—moved one step closer to completion. When it opens in spring of 2014, phase I of Assembly Row will include 450 residential units, more than 200,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space, an AMC movie theater, 100,000 square feet of office space and a redesigned waterfront park along the Mystic River. According to Don Briggs, president of Federal Realty Investment Trust Boston, the developers of the site, it will represent about $330 million to $340 million in private investment: $200 from Federal Realty and another $130 million to $140 million from Avalon Bay…

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Matt C

12:24 pm on Friday, May 3, 2013

Sure, you might now want to shop there - i am sure there are plenty of somerville residents who do not have interest in shopping at walmart. Regardless - who care if they are exactly where somerville residents shop. This will bring in lots of new jobs to the area and acts as a gateway to bring new shoppers and people looking for entertainment into the city proper.   more ›

Thursday, May 2, 2013

Assembly Row Celebrates Milestone Thursday

The developers will break ground on the final building in phase I.

U.S. Senator William Cowan was scheduled to be in Somerville Thursday to help Federal Realty Investment Trust, the developers of Assembly Row, break ground on the final building in phase I of their Assembly Square project. Phase I of the development will consist of 450 residential units, 100,000 square feet of office space, retail space, an AMC movie theatre and restaurants including Burger Dive, Starbucks, Legal C and Papagayo Kitchen & Tequila Bar, according to Jennifer Manley, who handles public relations for Assembly Row Manley said developers will begin advertising the residential units in Assembly Row's phase I this summer, and a redesigned riverfront park along the Mystic River is also expected to open this summer. A press release …

Friday, April 19, 2013

ASSEMBLED Crafts Market in Somerville to Launch May 18

The market will feature food trucks and music in addition to items made by local artists

The following is an announcement from Assembly Row about the upcoming ASSEMBLED market in Assembly Square: ASSEMBLED: The Handmade Arts Market at Assembly Row kicks off on Saturday May 18th featuring Boston Etsy artists. This weekly market will showcase handmade arts and crafts on display and for sale by New England’s many creative talents including numerous Etsy artisans. There will be live musical performances and food and refreshments sold by popular New England area Food Trucks Compliments, Bon Me, Frozen Hoagies, and Grilled Cheese Nation. ASSEMBLED promises to complement an already booming arts scene that has helped transform the city of Somerville into an “arts Mecca”.  Somerville ranks second in the United States behind New York …

Sunday, April 7, 2013

Mystic River Cleanup Scheduled for Earth Day Weekend

Volunteers will help clean up the most urbanized and densely populated watershed in the state, according to an announcement from the Mystic River Watershed Association.

The Mystic River Watershed Association will hold its annual Earth Day river cleanup event at Somerville's Assembly Row on April 20. The group invites volunteers to join the effort from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., and volunteers can come and go as they like, so it's easy to stop by, lend a hand for an hour, then head out. Volunteers will help remove litter. The Mystic River Watershed Association will provide all necessary supplies, according to an announcement from the group, so you just need to bring yourself.  The organization will also be hosting other cleanup events during Earth Day week. Earth Day is on April 22. You can learn more here.

Thursday, March 28, 2013

Letter to the Editor

Letter to the Editor: Reject IKEA Site Zoning Change in Assembly Square

Fred Berman asks the Somerville Board of Aldermen to fight for more lucrative development at an Assembly Square parcel.

Fred Berman, a former Board of Aldermen candidate who's been involved in Assembly Square development issues, sent the following letter to the Somerville Board of Aldermen. The letter asks the aldermen to reject a zoning amendment for the former IKEA site in Assembly Square. Berman argues the amendment could lead to a big-box supermarket that isn't in the best interest of the city. He provided the letter to Somerville Patch. Here it is: Dear Members of the Board of Aldermen, On Tuesday, April 2, the Land Use Committee will be voting on a zoning proposal to allow a ground floor supermarket to exceed the 50,000 square foot cap that was put in place to preclude more big box development at Assembly Square. The proposed zoning amendment would …

Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Somerville Artists Wanted for New Handmade Arts Market

"Assembled: The Handmade Arts Market at Assembly Row" begins in May and runs through September.

Saturday, March 2, 2013

Crafts Market Comes to Assembly Row This Spring

The market, called "Assembled," will include food trucks and live music, and it will run from May to September.

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Assembly Row Developers to Build Supermarket on IKEA Site

Federal Realty Investment Trust and IKEA have signed a purchase and sale agreement on 12 acres of land in Assembly Square, the developers announced.

Federal Realty Investment Trust, the developers of Assembly Row, have agreed to purchase the 12 acres of land in Assembly Square owned by IKEA, and they plan to build a supermarket there along with office and residential space, according to an announcement from Federal Realty Investment Trust. Although Assembly Row's developers and IKEA have signed an agreement, the deal will be not become final until after Federal Realty Investment Trust conducts due dilligence on the site and its development potential, a process that could take months, the announcement says. The sale price was not disclosed according to the announcement and the Boston Globe. The IKEA parcel will add land to Assembly Row's $1.5 billion development in Assembly Square, …

Thursday, December 6, 2012

Mayor: Announcement About IKEA Site Coming Soon

"I expect an extension of the neighborhood" currently under construction in Assembly Square, the mayor said.

IKEA, which owns a large parcel of land in Assembly Square, will "make an announcement very soon about who they're selling to," Somerville Mayor Joseph Curtatone said Wednesday night at a Ward 4 ResiStat meeting. IKEA first bought land in Assembly Square in the 1990s, and the Swedish company's plans for the location were a longstanding subject of speculation in Somerville until July, when the furniture giant announced it was not building in the city. Curtatone, speaking after the meeting, did not know when IKEA would make the announcement, but said it would be very soon, very likely before Christmas and possibly within days. In terms of who would be taking over the parcel and what would be built there, the mayor said, "I expect an …

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mplo

10:31 am on Friday, December 7, 2012

A Super Wal*Mart and a Sam's Club would be the last places that Assembly Square row needs. There are all kinds of reasons why Wal*Mart wasn't welcome here in Somerville at all and subsequently moved on because of that. It was a relief for me and most other Somerville residents.   more ›

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