Patsy’s Pastry Shop and the house next to it are slated for removal, making way for a new mixed-use residential and retail presence on the site. — Photo courtesy of Somerville Assessing Department

By David R. Smith

The Planning Board approved two projects, one in East Somerville and one in Union Square, at its most recent meeting, each of which had raised concerns – and in one case a lawsuit – from neighbors and abutters.

The first project is for a five-story mixed-use residential and retail project that would include the demolition of Patsy’s Pastry Shop at 182 Broadway and the two-and-a-half-story house next to it at 176 Broadway. The owner of Patsy’s owns both properties.

The first floor of the new building could hold one or two commercial tenants, depending on who ends up renting the space or spaces. Each of the four floors above would be built so they progressively step back from the street and would contain a total of 19 one- and two-bedroom condos, four of which would also contain small studies. Following the city’s affordable-housing requirements, two of the 19 units would be sold below market value.

The second project at 181 and 197 Washington St. in Union Square was approved following a settlement agreement in Land Court after the original project’s approval was appealed.

The initial proposal between a private development and the Somerville Community Corporation was for a combined 84 housing units and retail/commercial space in two five-story buildings. The proposal approved this past summer was for 74 units. The current plans have reduced that number to 65 units in two four-story building.

The 181 Washington St. property, which will be where SCC builds its 35 one- to three-bedroom affordable housing units, was last used as the Somerville Boys and Girls Club, which closed in 2010. Prior to that, it was the Charles G. Pope School and had also served as the home of the school department. The 197 Washington St. property, where what is being referred to as the “CPI building” after the private development company that will build it, is currently home to the Cota-Struzziero Funeral Home.

The reduction in the overall scale of each building did more than just reduce the total number of units. The first floor of the SCC building, which the organization planned to use as its own office space, will now be used for three of the 35 apartments. The SCC needed to maintain the original number of units to secure grant funding for the project.

The 30 one- and two-bedroom units in the CPI building, four of which will be earmarked as affordable under the city’s inclusionary zoning bylaw, will be sold as condos and not managed as rental apartments as first proposed.