[Ack; please delete the badly-formatted previous comment.]

This is a response to the comment from Byron Ellis, who probably won’t see it, but I’ll write it anyway…

Apparently they like slums since they also routinely fight a T stop in Union Square[...]

This is incorrect. The City of Somerville and all of the civic activist groups desperately want a Green Line extension to Union Square; this was promised to us as part of the Big Dig. The MBTA has been fighting it, saying they didn’t promise it and they don’t have the funds. The EOT has been fighting it, saying that while they did promise it, there are alternatives that should be considered instead. The Conservation Law Foundation is now in the process of suing the EOT to make them follow through: http://www.somervillestep.org/green_line/

As for the IKEA and development in Assembly Square, this was something that stumped me for years. Why wouldn’t we want an IKEA here? Wouldn’t it be great business? I didn’t understand this at all until I bought a house in Somerville and talked to my state representative about it.

The really short version is this: Assembly Square is the last large undeveloped section of Somerville. Putting in “big box” stores would not improve the quality of life for nearby residents, cause to city to lose money because the taxes wouldn’t cover the increased road maintenance costs, and eliminate the last opportunity to develop a large mixed-use community like what is being planned for North Point. Because of the limited open space in Somerville, the city has a civic responsibility to insist that the Assembly Square space be used more productively than sprawling one-story warehouses with expansive parking lots. Unfortunately, the existing owners and developers have been blocking this, because it requires a larger initial investment. Getting Orange Line stops in Assembly Square would help a great deal (and be very easy because the train already runs through there) but, of course, the MBTA and EOT are fighting that too.

It’s all much less stupid when you understand the background. For more information, check out the Mystic View Task Force at http://www.mysticview.org/ Also, note that there was some recent activity at the beginning of the month, with a sale to a new developer: http://www2.townonline.com/somerville/businessNews/view.bg?articleid=195633

-Jered

This is a response to the comment from Byron Ellis, who probably won’t see it, but I’ll write it anyway…

Apparently they like slums since they also routinely fight a T stop in Union Square[...]<i/>

The really short version is this: Assembly Square is the last large undeveloped section of Somerville. Putting in “big box” stores would not improve the quality of life for nearby residents, cause to city to lose money because the taxes wouldn’t cover the increased road maintenance costs, and eliminate the last opportunity to develop a large mixed-use community like what is being planned for North Point. Because of the limited open space in Somerville, the city has a civic responsibility to insist that the Assembly Square space be used more productively than sprawling one-story warehouses with expansive parking lots. Unfortunately, the existing owners and developers have been blocking this, because it requires a larger initial investment. Getting Orange Line stops in Assembly Square would help a great deal (and be very easy because the train already runs through there) but, of course, the MBTA and EOT are fighting that too.

It’s all much less stupid when you understand the background. For more information, check out the Mystic View Task Force at http://www.mysticview.org/ Also, note that there was some recent activity at the beginning of the month, with a sale to a new developer: http://www2.townonline.com/somerville/businessNews/view.bg?articleid=195633

-Jered

Actually, last I heard, while the Somerville IKEA store still is held up by litigation, the new mayor is in favor, and plans are underway.
http://somervillenews.typepad.com/the_somerville_news/2004/04/ikea_tells_curt.html
http://somervillenews.typepad.com/the_somerville_news/2004/05/
Though, as of this 2003 Globe article, it’s held up until at least 2006: http://www.boston.com/business/globe/articles/2003/12/02/ikea_set_to_build_in_stoughton/

Byron Ellis:
Ikea is really much more of a Shelbyville idea anyway.

Ah, get to the new store before the employees become totally embittered “I hate my job selling weird furniture to yuppies” type people.

The NJ store is absolutely ABYSMAL for customer service. Contrast that with the relatively recently opened store outside Wash, DC (just south of it) and you see a world of difference. I give the ‘jsut outside’ Wash, DC store another year before they’re the same.

If you’re willing to deal with the out-of-stock of everything you want and bitter employees, wait a year or two after they open.

I’d LOVE to be proved wrong on this, as MA will be much closer for me than any other store.

Just don’t go to Ikea on opening day:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/4252421.stm

haha. I agree with A S. Their furniture has a really short half life. But, its a fun store. Hard to believe the stuff is made anywhere in Scandinavia though.

Iranian carpets are permitted.
http://www.treas.gov/offices/enforcement/ofac/sanctions/

Good IKEA deals: light bulbs and
champagne glasses.

But for furniture, I agree with A S. The more durable IKEA items are not cheap. I have gotten far better products/deals from Office Depot and local furniture importers.

[homer]Stupid Somerville.[/homer] Apparently they like slums since they also routinely fight a T stop in Union Square (That would have been totally boss. Imagine, getting to Logan without having to trek to Harvard Square)