co-creating a more equitable future for our youth, our planet and for Somerville.
Why Density is key to innovation?
Density & Innovation
Tough Tech “When iron rusts, it swaps an electron for an oxygen molecule. Usually, that electron goes to waste. Form Energy’s batteries, which are the size of a washer-dryer set, take in oxygen to convert iron to rust, harnessing the resulting electrons and their energy. The devices can discharge power for about four straight days – lasting far longer than lithium-ion batteries, which, unlike Form Energy’s solution, require mining rare-earth minerals.” - TIME, “The Best Inventions of 2023” Form Energy Employee working on Battery, Form Energy
Density & Innovation
Startup Ecosystem Today
Density & Innovation
Startup Ecosystem Goal
Campus Expansion Summary
Proposed Project Research & Development
1.1m SF
Office / Commercial
333,000 SF
Arts & Creative Enterprise (ACE)
77,000 SF
Community Center
27,600 SF 40,000 SF Fitness
8,400 SF Retail
Daycare
6,800 SF Health & Wellness
29,000 SF Food & Beverage
Open Space
80,000 SF
Trees
100+
Vehicle Parking
TBD
Bike Parking
400+
EV Charging
100% Of the parking will be EV ready
Campus Expansion Summary
Existing
Campus Expansion Summary
Proposed
Proposed Community Benefits (Extra)
North South Connector
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PRIORITIES
Social Impact Fund
$5.5 MILLION
The Fund will leverage the growing climate economy to benefit Somerville’s most vulnerable families and residents. Together with community leaders and industry experts, we will generate measurable social and environmental impact while building community wealth. We will be inviting experts and advocacy from every stakeholder to prioritize the distribution of funds. These funds will help support the most vulnerable communities in Somerville.
Proposed Community Benefits
Youth-driven Multigenerational Community Center Rafi will work with community stakeholders to create a task force that will run a process to find the right partner to operate the Community Center on behalf of the community.
Community Benefits & Project Mitigation
Community Benefits & Project Mitigation
Linkage Fee Comparison Existing Zoning
Proposed Climate & Equity Overlay
Affordable Housing Trust (Required by Zoning)
$26.9M
$41.5M
Jobs Trust (Required by Zoning)
$3.5M
$5.5M
$30.4M
$47M
The required linkage fees for the campus expansion represent a 55% increase from the existing zoning.
*Not including any parking areas.
Community Benefits & Project Mitigation
20-year Cumulative Tax Revenue
Real Estate Taxes
Existing Zoning
Proposed Climate & Equity Overlay
$15.4M
$388M
Somernova will contribute approximately $26.9M net property tax annually to the City after the expansion. In today’s dollars, this represents a 7.9% increase in the FY2024 projected City revenues.
Community Benefits & Project Mitigation
Job Creation
Proposed Climate & Equity Overlay Permanent Jobs Created
5,850 Nearly 1,754 (30%) of these jobs require less than bachelor’s degree to qualify
Construction Jobs
Jobs Created through Economic Impact
6,020 1,200 Impact in the community through direct, indirect, & induced increases in spending.
Comparison
Existing Zoning
Proposed Climate & Equity Overlay
Community Center
None
25,000 sq ft $30m turn-key facility programmed & operated by Somerville community
Impact Fund
None
$5.5M
Shuttle
None
Proposed North South Connector shutter to bring innovation and resources to people and people to innovation. Open to all residents & campus tenants.
Civic Space
None
35,000 sq.ft.
Micro Forest
None
New 10,800 sq.ft. Civic Space at part of Pollinator Corridor
Open Space
Not Required
80,000 sq.ft.
Not Required
Green roof, PVs, or both for 100% of the roof area not occupied by building systems equipment or outdoor amenity spaces.
Residential is Not Permitted
Propose Residential as an Allowable Use
35 Trees
100+ Trees
1196 Required
1252
70 ft
45 to 245 ft
1.2M SF
1.9M SF
Green Roofs Housing Tree Canopy Vehicle Parking Spaces Building Heights Density
Campus Expansion Summary
Existing
Campus Expansion Summary
Developed Under Existing Zoning
Campus Expansion Summary
Proposed
Next Steps
Timeline
Questions from the Community
1. Rafi‘s project proposes 1.9 million feet of commercial space with building heights from 3 up to 16 stories. By right, Rafi could build 1.2 million square feet on only four stories. Can you explain (to a layperson) why Rafi needs to build so many more stories to add just 0.7 million square feet of commercial space? 2. What about housing; where does it go? 3. What is the environmental impact of this increased height that you are proposing? 4. Where are you going to put all the cars; have you reached out to the church for their parking? 5. Are there pollutants in the soil below your existing buildings that would have to be remediated? 6. How do you avoid being another Kendall Square? 7. How do you ensure that your vision will continue beyond the construction of your project? 8. Can you address what you are investing into the infrastructure to support the development of this project including to support the incoming population that will move into the neighborhood? 9. Will Rafi properties commit to funding the DOJO/ youth community center if it does not get the desired zoning change? What are the plans for Somernova‘s community engagement in that event? 10. How does the community center get funded past the 10 years of your funding if the city or a private non-profit isn’t involved from the beginning? 11. How long would it take for a proposal to actually break ground? 12. What does this project do for the City of Somerville?
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Co-create with us! Visit: Somernova.community or write to us at community@somernova.com