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Dana & Pearl
Somerville, MA
2023—

 Type: Residential
Program: 3 Apartments
Status: Ongoing, UDC Approved, HPC Approved
Area: 3,600 GSF
Client: Picker Development & Construction
Landscape Architect: Ground, Inc
Structural Engineer: Forest Engineering
Sustainability Consultant: VvS Architects
Transportation Engineer: Howard Stein Hudson
Pearl Street Elevation

The site is a corner lot in East Somerville, abutting the McGrath Highway, a seven lane surface road, and two pitched roof houses. Across the street is a gas station. For many years, the site has hosted a pottery studio in an unremarkable single story building.

The proposed development at 181 Pearl Street is a 3-story building with three residential apartments. The site is a corner parcel within the MR3 zoning district, and is abutted by NR zoned parcels on each side. It is bounded by Pearl Street to the south, Dana Street and McGrath Highway to the east, a 2 ½ story house to the west, and a two-story house to the north. There are a mix of single-family, two-family, triple-decker, and larger residential buildings in the immediate vicinity. Across Pearl St is a gas station, and across McGrath Highway are several low rise commercial buildings. 
Aerial View of Existing Conditions
Existing Building from corner of Dana & Pearl
The development also contributes meaningfully to the neighborhood streetscape by setting back from the curb to create a generous sidewalk and large planter along Pearl Street with a pollinator garden and street tree. Beneath the tree is a bench built into the planter that extends the stoop culture of the neighborhood. The permeable-paved courtyard also contains a common seating area and planter beds. These gardens contribute to the city’s resiliency and ecological goals by increasing permeable area and adding native species and pollinators to diversify the local habitat.
Facade Details


Materials

Silver Aluminum Panel with Triangular Profile
Mint Green Cement Board
Copper Corrugated Panel
Red Brick

View from Corner of Dana & Pearl

View of the courtyard entrance

Walking along Pearl Street


Drawings

Site Plan
Typical Upper Floor Plan
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