Somerville is coming for the 2020s

The only U.S. city that is both larger and more densely populated than Somerville is New York City. As compact as Somerville is, it is now in the midst of a transformative period, with more commercial development slated in the next five years than at any point in its history. From future life sciences hub Union Square, to Boston’s newest neighborhood at Assembly Square, to the reimagination of Davis Square, Somerville is leveraging its location, culture, and talent in attracting scores of new developers.

Somerville has reached an inflection point in its transformation from a city known for its three-deckers and the invention of Fluffernutter to a regional economic powerhouse tailored for success in the 21st century economy.

While it seems as though anywhere within 10 miles of Boston is experiencing a construction boom, Somerville is uniquely situated for a transformative decade. Commercial developers have cast their eye to the city. Its talent, transit, and livability are unrivaled outside of Boston and Cambridge.

Here’s why the next decade will belong to Somerville.

The Green Line Extension sets stage for Boston’s next lab cluster

Between Leggat McCall’s Boynton Yards and US2’s Union Square Project, the neighborhood is home to 1.75 million square feet of entitled and ready-to-go lab space. It is wholly made possible by the 2021 arrival of the Green Line to Union Square, which will be just two stops from North Station. Only a half-decade ago most of US2’s land was a collection of fenced-in dirt lots bordering the commuter rail line that bisects Somerville. Boynton Yards is set further afield amongst a collection of light industrial buildings on the Cambridge border.

Fast-forward to 2022 and the area will assuredly be a collection of biotechs that have been squeezed out of Kendall Square. Much like the Seaport before it, Union Square can create a unique value proposition – new lab buildings in a highly amenitized and transit-accessible urban location. While Watertown and Allston also have burgeoning lab scenes themselves, they cannot compete with the Green Line or the proximity to Kendall Square – which is only one mile away as the crow flies.

Somerville has all the essentials necessary to capitalize on Boston’s place atop the life sciences world. It has the local talent, the proximity, the transit, and the developable parcels. After proof-of-concept, lab projects will no doubt multiply across the city as the industry expands outward from Kendall Square. In the next five years the neighborhood will likely approach 2 million square feet (up from zero today), rivaling the current size of the Seaport, Waltham, and Lexington lab markets – Boston’s top lab clusters outside of Kendall Square. The $2.1 billion Green Line Extension, which will add six stops in Somerville, will unlock the city’s commercial potential.

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Kevin Woo