An update on the next phase of the Union Square (USQ) revitalization plan was made at a recent meeting of the Somerville Redevelopment Authority.

By Harry Kane

The Somerville Redevelopment Authority held a meeting on Wednesday, March 4, to provide an overview of the Union Square (USQ) revitalization plan that is moving into the next phase.

President of the Union Square Station Associates (US2) Greg Karczewski spoke at length during a virtual meeting on March 4 about the past decade of public and private progress toward recreating a vibrant neighborhood.

“We’ve been able, over the course of this decade … to work through a collaborative planning process to define the goals for the neighborhood … to put zoning in place, to put agreements in place, that govern how the revitalization will be implemented,” said Karczewski.

US2’s Union Square revitalization kick-off event was held back in October of 2014. “Progress happens over increments over time,” he said, recalling the work that has been accomplished thus far on this transit-oriented employment district.

The USQ redevelopment project is delivering on the community-led SomerVision 2040 initiative from the Curtatone Administration.

The initial phase of the $2 billion, 15-20-acre USQ development project is complete. These items of the master plan include the MBTA Green Line Station, major infrastructure investments such as Somerville Avenue and Eversource Mobility, Somerville’s first community benefits agreement, the former scrapyard (D2 transformation) conversion into commercial, housing and open space, the meaningful fiscal impact of a one-time $36 million benefit, approximately $4 million per year in new taxes, and long-term institutional capital committed to Somerville.

“A key piece of that, of course, was the Green Line Station being delivered, back in 2022,” he said. “We are four years into the use of the Green Line Station, and it has had a very significant impact.”

Karczewski says the Green Line Station was an important piece of the broader goal of the revitalization plan to evolve Union Square into a preferred commercial employment district.

The next major accomplishment was the transformation of the scrapyard located at 10-50 Prospect Street, formerly known as D2. The 450-unit apartment community consists of a mid-rise building and a 25-story tower, called Prospect Union Square, located at 50 Prospect Street, and includes 20 percent affordable housing, retail, and shared parking.

The team is now working on attracting tenants at the vacant commercial lab/office building (196,500 rentable square feet) at 10 Prospect Street in the sectors of life sciences, AI, robotics, and climate tech.

“We really view this building as a catalyst for the commercial development and urban revitalization of the neighborhood,” he said.

Over the last year, Karczewski says, the team has made a concerted effort to reach out to the innovation ecosystem by hosting nearly 30 events to position 10 Prospect Street as a place for industry connection growth, and “a place where leaders in the ecosystem can come and exchange ideas, and hear about what’s shaping the future.”

Floors 5 and 6 spec suites are available now, which offer established companies Class-A R&D workspaces, ranging from 10.5K square feet to 31.5K square feet, according to the USQ website.

The D2 block is now in the leasing and occupancy stage and represents 25.3 percent of the master plan. The master project overview will likely include 17 building projects, 11 public open spaces, 3.6 acres of civic space and public realm, with approximately 60 percent zoned for commercial use and 40 percent for residential use.

The next phase will begin with a 9-story commercial building at the 50 Webster Ave site. This is another R&D and office location, which is fully permitted, and is a “shovel-ready” project, waiting for commercial leasing conditions to improve, said Karczewski. The 280,000-square-foot building will represent another 11.7 percent of the master plan.