Boston Herald Business Editor Frank Quaratiello on the latest Development in Somerville

So -- lifestyle changes would you be willing to make in order to extend your life expectancy that's -- text question of the day. Our -- number is 68680. 978 says getting married to a he would change that now all or is that something may -- -- he regrets from his -- yeah perhaps they I got a text question asking where taking ago. To take. The test they want people want to know where they can go. -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- He -- emailed me last night he's like I took a testament to live to be 95. By about it and yet there's -- snow she. She well. She got the email so hopefully shall open it up and figure out you know what it is because you know my mom races every two things everything -- -- Bible it says I wouldn't change my diet but it would limit might TV watching. Because I know just sitting there cannot be good for that's probably true -- yeah. It -- be TV is obviously watching TV is a very sedentary activity it is at a that we can be no one else's is surfing the web. How many people you know back in the day nobody's around answer the -- like they do now a sit around with your your Smartphone but the computer honor -- treadmill. Worked out and -- eight we're joined by frank for TL from the Boston Herald frank garrido -- And I'm doing very well -- how about yourself. Well we're we're doing any an informal survey about what you would do to extend your life expectancy -- what would you be willing to sacrifice frank in order to extend your life expectancy. In my life but I and then you wanna live longer -- we are Edward Mueller did this our poll question of the day so. Nobody gets by without having to answer. They're they're not. As long as that would. -- in my life that I would be living it would be longer would be healthy and I would be able to get around. Pretty much everything except for -- the lives of my family. You know navy -- to give up like potato chips and ice -- Easily any food item and I'm very. I -- I can be very self discipline when it comes to food. Good for you I cannot -- I I read your story in today's Boston Herald about -- tell us what's going on it sounds like Somerville. Is kind of going through their own Big Dig if you will. It really as it is the largest economic development project in the state. It's cute it's called assembly row and when it all when all is said and done it's going to be. 2100. Residential units. One point seven million square feet of office space lot of ground floor retail and new well screen movie theater. A hotel 200 room hotel and eight new and BCA orange line. Where's this all go on strike. This is all going on I think it's about 45 acres behind the assembly square mall now you if you know where that is. And it's along the Mystic River so -- that -- parcel of land this. Back in the day that used to be Ford plant where they may be ill fated. Apple young lad called assembly square. And that that land has been. Just kind of a waste plant -- a long time there's going to be adjacent to that parcel behind The Home Depot that a lot of people -- from 93 there's going to be an idea. That goes in but it really is. It's so massive it's like a little city which in this city of summer. Who's the developer behind this project. Now these. Federal realty is the overall developer. And a has looked up. -- at Avalon dates to do a lot of the residential units that Cheney you'd. Project so that there I think in and -- smaller people doing different different parts that the federal realty is the master -- Where do you know where they're getting their financing frank have you been able to dig that out. You know I don't know where they're getting all of their financing but I know that they did get some taxpayer support in fact. Ice -- which is the -- this state in the structure program which float bonds kind of based on future revenue growth. Made -- their first fifteen million dollar project. And they. For a long time there was this there was a road. The route sixteen that went behind the assembly square -- that was essentially known around here is the road to nowhere. And now they are finally building somewhere at the end of that growth. -- so early we knew when you look at what's gone on -- -- any yet estimates as to job creation frank these this has to be a lot of construction jobs. Yeah a lot of construction jobs and I don't have a number on that off the top of my head it's it's a ten year bill -- So it's going to be. You know days in the first days. Is gonna have to buildings that apartment complexes 448. Units. And then they're lining up a third building that -- have restaurants and retailers. They're actually with all that office space they're gonna wind up competing with downtown Boston yeah. In places like this seaport district we're already starting to see that that they're going after the same kind of client. Sure you know why wouldn't they have -- and it and it's gonna be very attractive to anybody up on the North Shore with the current. Right you can you can get a basically handed out a little more easily so downtown Boston and with the orient lines stop right there that's going to be a great advantage for. People who want to commute. So what of the town -- -- -- think what really like if you live in Medford Cambridge -- witted people in the surrounding towns thinking about this and would -- how to Somerville mayor feel about it. Somerville mayor loves -- he was that the ground breaking yesterday and he's been pushing really hard for this. There's been an oppositional groups. That the mystic valley task force that is. Voiced its concerns over the years I think. If they're not necessarily on board they've at least kind of come around there reality that they have. That the project is going through and and there were points where they were really. Trying to. A block it and I think there I can't speak for them and I think there are more happy with the way the project is gonna work out there's an idea. At six acre park along the rivers part of the project. And so there is going to be some more open space. There it isn't going to be intense as it necessarily was first invasion. And I think in terms of people in that area they've seen Medford Everett they've seen a lot of development in the last -- heaters though -- in transit oriented development on the other side of the river. There is there's some big box stores that have come and and I think people in general maybe they're not happy with the increased traffic it -- going to be concerned with this project is well. But they they love to see the development as a resident of Somerville. You note that it's a real potential boon for the tax base. Anything schools at all Franken any money being earmarked to improve the the school system in Somerville. You know I I'm sure that. There is an I don't have the exact details on that but certainly with all those residences coming in there's going to be concerned for the schools that a little kept secret in Somerville. Over the years. As it has become. I don't wanna say a young urban professional. Mecca but. There are fewer and fewer kids in the schools. A lot of people don't realize this I have kids in the two children in the public schools and Somerville this student teacher ratio was really small classrooms look like thirteen kids. So there's there is room for this school system to grow a little bit and it and I am sure. If it becomes an issue with this larger tax base. They'll be money that goes to schools money that goes to fire protection. I'm fairly certain authority. Talk of the police outpost over there by the developments though. It's it's interesting because Somerville is. You know when that happens it's gonna kind of beaten by accepted by interstate 93. And that's going to be a challenge for the city but. In general this is really undeveloped space and and this is gonna be I think a welcome. When does it start in earnest when when does that really get cranked up. Well -- over there it is. I was like his head of the event yesterday and it's pretty desolate they have cleared a lot of the area. And they've got some machinery and let you know there are hundreds of workers. They're building yet it was a groundbreaking. But I had my understanding is phase one started yesterday -- with the good whether they're going to be out there and I think they're talking about completion dates around next summer for some of the early building. Good -- frank thanks for your story and thanks for joining us on the show appreciate. Thanks for having -- take care that's francoeur to -- business editor at the Boston Herald joining us today on the financial exchange.