Developer of proposed Davis Square tower releases new designs

The developer of the proposed 26-story tower in Somerville’s Davis Square released new alternative plans Tuesday, as promised. However, the plans have not been scaled back significantly, as some community members had hoped.

Developer Copper Mill has released three new, revised designs for the 500-unit building, including the original 26-story plan with the tower set back from Elm Street.

In December, Copper Mill submitted its original design To obtain a Chapter 40B permitwhich allows developers to build with more flexible rules if at least one-fifth of the units are affordable housing. The 40B development application was denied, according to a MassHousing official.

the Three other designs They do not differ much in height. The second alternative is 25 storeys on a four-storey podium with a “more compact tower shape”.

The third is three stepped towers – 24 storeys, 23 storeys and 17 storeys – on a three-storey podium.

The fourth design includes towers of similar heights – 24, 13 and 15 storeys – interlocking rather than tiered.

While the heights are similar, albeit a few floors lower, than the original proposal, Copper Mill owner Andrew Flynn said they “completely redesigned the pedestrian world and platform with masonry and brick, at the request of the community.”

“The new designs explore a range of different dimensions, heights and collective expressions,” Flynn said in a statement. “In order to achieve the shared goals set by the community – transportation-oriented housing production, affordable housing production, more than 1,500 union construction jobs, retention of existing retail tenants and multiple free retail spaces for small business owners – density remains a key component of viability.”

Many Somerville residents strongly oppose the proposed development in the heart of Davis Square, affecting The Burren, Dragon Pizza, McKinnon’s Meat Market, Martsa on Elm and Kung Fu Tea, some temporarily and others permanently.

At a community meeting last month, where Flynn pledged to produce new development options, residents booed the tower’s display, criticized the building’s mix of units, and emphasized the importance of the neighborhood’s character.

Elaine Almquist, President of the Davis Square Neighborhood Council, He said Boston Globe Some members of the organization strongly oppose this rise.

“Some people are concerned about the altitude and don’t care about anything else,” she said. globe. “There are people who said things like, ‘Absolutely nothing in four stories, period.’

Molly Farrar is a general assignment reporter for Boston.com, focusing on education, politics, crime and more.