Somerville Urban Design Commission Continues Two Apartment Projects Over Design Flaws

Other Committee · Meeting of April 14, 2026

Somerville Urban Design Commission continues two apartment projects and votes to meet in person in May. The three-member commission, chaired by Estella Organet with members Andrew Arbaugh and Tim Tallon, voted 3-0 twice on April 14 to continue design review for MR4 apartment projects at 382 McGrath Highway and 359 Lowell Street, both brought by the same design team, after finding unresolved problems with ADA ramp compliance, bike parking counts, window-well lighting, and green-score calculations that improperly counted roof-top pathways as pervious surface. Tallon warned the McGrath project that "the site conditions do not suggest that you actually can" build to the property line given grading and light constraints.

The commission also voted 3-0 to hold its May 12, 2026 meeting in person at a city location yet to be confirmed, after staff reported a three-week delay in securing access to the Tufts-managed OSPCD building and members argued City Hall or Somerville High School would be simpler alternatives.

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Source: the Other Committee meeting of April 14, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.