Davis Square Partners, LLC - City of Somerville

MUNICIPAL BENEFITS / IMPACTS / COSTS
process we will identify and solve this issue with the assistance
of the Board of Health / ISD. When the hotel is
operational, we will have private trash service. As the site
is rather tight, offensive odors during the operation of the
hotel will also be offensive to hotel guests as well. Our
goal is to promote wellfare for both the neighborhood as
well as our guests.
Lighting
Again during the Permitting and Community process we
will identify potential lighting issue from both the construction
and design point of view. We will provide aesthetic
lighting for our neighbors neighbors while thoughtfully
evoking high design to attract visitors to the hotel
while simultaneously providing a safe pathway for public
parkers. Using photometrics we should be able to identify
any potential issues and rectify any unintentional offensive
lighting. Fortunately there are many “green” alternative
lighting choices that will be well received by the
neighborhood while still creating a “special place” we will
all be proud of.
Shadow Effects
Certainly with any new development of a vacant lot, there
will be shadow impacts. Our general design will be based
upon the current zoning in place while creating the volume
required for a financially feasible hotel. As part of
the Community and Permitting process we will create a
shadow study which will identify impacts during different
seasons.
Of note is that on our development team is an abutter
of the project. Mr Samaraweera has owned 38 Day Street
for over XXX years; this hotel will have a tremendous impact
on his apartment building during construction and
after the hotel is operational; if it effects a neighbor, it will
likely effect his interests to an even greater degree. Mr
Samaraweera will act as a built-in second set of eyes on
our project and provide a greater insight as to the needs
of the community.
During the anticipated Community Process we will identify
additional issues that will need to be addressed in a
54
thoughtful manner.
Additional Benefits
We envision this hotel to immediately become part of the
fabric of the Davis Community. We intend to embrace
and enhance Davis Square and the City of Somerville as
soon as we break ground. As part of the community, we
aim to play a role with the Chamber of Commerce, local
business affiliations and community groups that work to
make Davis a better place to live and work. Throughout
the Maxwell’s Green project we partnered with local vendors
and restaurants in order to promote local businesses
within the community. Enhancing Davis through community
improvement projects is good business for everyone.
One such example could include creating additional Hubway
bicycles. Certainly a hotel doesn’t have unlimited resources,
however we intend to make a positive difference
in our community.
Potential Infrastructure Improvements
Some immediate impacts that we foresee include a traffic
study with proposed changes which could include oneway
streets, new signage and re-timing of traffic lighting
for improved motorist experience in and around the area.
We will work with the comminty and Traffic & Parking in
order to create an optimized plan. We expect to play a
strong role in the improvement of streetscape along Day
and Hebert Streets. We feel that the pedestrian experience
can be greatly improved and extended between the
heart of Davis Square and the various entrances to retail,
public parking garage and the main entrance to the hotel
lobby; improvements could include a raised handicap accessible
pedestrian crosswalk connecting the hotel to the
Davis Square Plaza which would encourage traffic calming
and improve the pedestrian experience/connection to the
rest of the square.
Our immediate goal as preferred developer is to keep
the duration of the project as short as possible, while respecting
the needs of the neighborhood and their right to
quiet enjoyment of their homes and businesses. In short
we want to be a good neighbor and promote a successful
hotel in the City that we can be proud of. After reviewing