Almost everyone who reads local news knows about the proposal to build a 26-story tower in Davis Square. It is hard to avoid. News is generated about this hypothetical tower every few weeks.
The project was proposed under the previous mayor of Somerville, who apparently told the proponents to “slow down.” A year or more later, with a new mayor in office, the project has resurfaced, with a new series of community meetings. But don’t get too excited: Our city has decided that a plan for the area must be generated before anything can happen, which will be three to six months from now. (A Davis Square Neighborhood Council leader says this is not a condition – that in fact the DSNC voted to ask Copper Mill to withdraw its application until the plan was completed, and Copper Mill said no.)
There are two camps: those who support the project for boring economic reasons, and those who see tall buildings as psychically damaging. Neither position is particularly brave, but what’s especially not brave is refusing to pick a side. Yet that is what Jake Wilson is doing. Sounding as AI-generated as ever, he posted a video on Facebook saying, “my support is dependent on your support.” Hey Jake: You’re the mayor! We elected you. You are an intelligent guy. Do you like the project or not? I don’t expect to be consulted on this issue any more than the rats on my porch expect to eat my neighbor’s pizza order. (The rats eat the pizza anyway.)
I highly doubt any more meetings, planning, input, commentary, essays or shouting will facilitate a better decision about this project. I am sorry the building is ugly. Architects have bad taste nowadays, and attending meetings won’t change that. Our cities are full of ugly buildings because that’s what is cheap to make.
What is not in doubt is that delaying a project is a surefire way to make it never happen. Let’s hear from the Biden administration on the subject:
“Permitting delays contributes to the nationwide housing shortage by increasing the cost of new housing development, leading would-be deals to not pencil out. These costs include interest payments, property taxes, insurance, utilities, business operation overhead and higher financing costs to compensate investors for delays and uncertainty. […] In New York City, a two-year delay for midrise development increases the per-unit cost by an estimated $50,000.”
I think Wilson knows that delaying the project is likely to make it fail. I think he has already taken a side and doesn’t want to say it, because it’s more politically expedient to pretend it is out of his control. Again, I don’t care if the tower is built. But the attitude that robust debate and community process can fix things is laughable. The Socratic method does not build apartments.
Nicholas Marchuk is a local author and engineer. His work is available at major retailers and on his website, nicholasmarchuk.com. Comments and questions can be directed to his contact form and may be responded to in this publication.
This post was updated April 26 to add comment from a Davis Square Neighborhood Council leader about the timing of plans for the square and for Copper Mill.
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