(The opinions and views expressed in the commentaries and letters to the Editor of The Somerville Times belong solely to the authors and do not reflect the views or opinions of The Somerville Times, its staff or publishers)
Dear Editor,
On behalf of Sublime Systems, I am writing to express our strong support for Somernova’s campus expansion and the recently proposed Arts & Innovation SubArea Zoning. As a company at the forefront of innovative manufacturing technology, we have seen firsthand the critical role Somernova plays in fostering innovation, supporting startups, and enabling transformative solutions that address some of the world’s greatest challenges.
Since establishing our presence in Somerville, Sublime Systems has experienced remarkable growth, made possible in no small part due to the resources, collaboration, and ecosystem that Somernova provides. The ability to operate alongside other cutting-edge companies in tough tech and cleantech has created an environment where we can tackle the urgent need for sustainable solutions while benefiting from shared knowledge, talent, and infrastructure. Somerville has the opportunity to strengthen its leadership as a hub for the companies solving tomorrow’s problems, but this requires a commitment to policies and projects that support the next generation of Innovators.
The proposed Arts & Innovation SubArea Zoning is essential to ensuring that companies like ours can continue to grow, create jobs, and deliver solutions that have global impact. Companies scaling novel manufacturing and industrial solutions require specialized infrastructure, flexible space, and a community that fosters interdisciplinary collaboration. Somernova has provided this, and its expansion will further strengthen
Somerville’s ability to attract and retain high-impact businesses that are not only creating economic growth but also addressing critical challenges such as decarbonization, energy security, and sustainable manufacturing.
Now, more than ever, we must invest in spaces that empower businesses working on solutions that will shape the future. We urge the City Council to support the expansion of Somernova and the Arts & Innovation SubArea Zoning to ensure that Somerville continues to be a leader in innovation, economic resilience, and sustainability.
Thank you for your consideration and for your continued efforts to shape policies that support a thriving future forour city. We welcome the opportunity to further discuss the importance of this initiative and look forward to continued collaboration.
Sincerely,
Cayman Somerville
Director of Operations
Sublime Systems
cayman@sublime-systems.com
The project has benefits, yet its humongous scale far from transit remains a problem. 4000 employees can’t all walk or use public transit, which is
farther away than from any other big development. Buildings are 7x taller than anything in the city. There is very little green space on the ground level. It’s so sad that the developer brushes aside all comments like this, as if critiques were destructive instead of hoping for slightly better deal for the community. Very little little talk about supporting existing businesses that already support enthusiastic communities with free performances, a kid-friendly exercise space, an outdoor courtyard, indoor spaces to meet informally. Aeronaut has no cover charge. the Bouldering Project–will it be maintained? Best, Kate