Residents at an affordable-housing development in Massachusetts have called on local officials to reconsider a development proposal that would remove trees and reduce green space adjacent to their homes.
Here’s what to know
The situation involves a city-owned parcel of land in Somerville, Massachusetts. The city initially acquired the vacant property through eminent domain in order to construct a public-safety building.
However, because the land cost far more than expected and the area increasingly needed housing, the city shifted its plans to build residential apartment homes, according to Cambridge Day.
Ultimately, the city selected a proposal from developer Wood Partners that would include seven-story rental buildings, with affordable homes making up 20% of the total. The development would also include neighborhood retail totaling 15,000 square feet and civic space totaling 6,000 square feet, a Wood Partners spokesperson said, per Cambridge Day…