Changes Coming To Somerville’s Davis Square With New Lab Building

SOMERVILLE, MA — Changes are coming to Somerville’s Davis Square, with a new four-story lab building approved for Elm Street, reported Wicked Local.

The city’s planning board recently approved an application for a new mixed-use life science facility with first-floor commercial space at 231-249 Elm St. and 6-8 and 12 Grove St., in the newly established Commercial Core 4 District.

The new building will sit right next to The Burren, a popular Irish pub inside a building built in the 1920s. Although The Burren won’t be affected, several businesses will, including Martsa on Elm Tibetan Cuisine, When Pigs Fly bakery, McKinnon's Meat Market, Sligo Pub, Kung Fu Tea and Dragon Pizza, as well as a parking lot on Grove Street.

These businesses would be displaced either have to relocate or vacate for a year or more during construction.

The project is being built by the UK-based developer Scape Development, which purchased the Elm Street lots for $10 million in 2019.

The company originally planned to build a 250-unit apartment building, but changed their plans after the city rezoned the area.