In the interest of things we might have a chance of affecting: I'm going to a public comment meeting next week!

It's about the luxury condo monstrosity they're trying to build in Davis Square-- which, sure, they say it's not that, but they're looking at getting rid of all the businesses on that block to build something that's 500 units, only 20% of which are set to be designated affordable (and "affordable" isn't always that affordable around here: affordable rent is 30% of 80% of the median income for a household of one more person than bedrooms), and there's no way a for-profit developer is putting that much effort into a big development if it's not going to be expensive luxury apartments. To say nothing of the existing car congestion there-- sure, let's add an underground parking garage of 100 spaces; that's going to help with anything! (I'd rather see it go the Boston route of it doesn't provide parking and living there means you aren't eligible for street parking permits. If they committed to 50% affordable, a range of prices in the affordable instead of everything being set at maximum you can set affordable, no condos, and no major chains in the proposed retail space, all of that in a legally binding fashion that the city can enforce, I'd even be willing to let it go ahead.)

And the reason there are so many empty storefronts down there now is that they keep coming up with these plans so no one wants to commit to moving in.

So, yeah, the developer is having a Community Meeting on February 12 at 6PM at the Somerville Community Baptist Church and I am going to make polite objections. (Polite being the key word; the email that first informed me of this was encouraging jeering the developer people and I don't think that's productive in this setting. Here's an article discussing it a bit more neutrally.)