A rendering shows the Elm Street side of a massing concept for Copper Mill Development's proposed Davis Square residential tower. Image courtesy of CBT Architects
The debate over a potential high-rise apartment tower in Davis Square entered the Somerville mayoral race heading into Tuesday’s election as finalist Jake Wilson stated his opposition to the project.
Boston-based developer Copper Mill has presented preliminary plans to replace a block of storefronts on Elm Street with a 30-story tower, but not filed any formal plans with the city.
On Thursday, Wilson issued a statement that he opposes the project because of a lack of specifics. Decrying last-minute “misinformation, confusion and attacks,” Wilson said his view on the project has been consistent.
“The Copper Mill project as it stands has almost no details, no community benefits agreement, and only a verbal promise of a project labor agreement,” Wilson wrote.
But he disavowed an anonymous flier that emphasized his opposition to the project, saying it did not originate from his campaign.
Wilson said approval of any development of the scale considered by Copper Mill should be put on hold pending the completion of the Davis Square Commercial Area plan, a planning study which was released in 2023 but has yet to be codified in rezoning.
“It’s absolutely vital to have these strategic plans in place to avoid doing development on a haphazard, one-off basis,” Wilson wrote.
Davis Square Village, a resident and merchant group, has been organizing against the redevelopment.
Copper Mill acquired the block of businesses, including the longtime home of The Burren pub, in 2023 and has presented conceptual plans for a 500-unit housing development at community meetings.
Copper Mill CEO Andrew Flynn and Wilson’s opponent in Tuesday’s election, Willie Burnley Jr., were not available for comment.
Burnley, who like Wilson is an incumbent at-large city councilor, has vowed to address the housing crisis by supporting zoning changes that encourage construction of more affordable housing, and creation of a city social housing office.
Housing advocacy group Somerville YIMBY has endorsed Burnley for mayor. The tower has also attracted a measure of support from other Somerville residents wanting to see more housing next to transit stops.
In his statement, Wilson noted that rezoning decisions are controlled by the City Council, adding that “there is nowhere near the required level of council support” for a citywide rezoning proposal, but supports upzoning areas near transit.
Housing and development issues are factoring prominently in many of Greater Boston’s municipal elections this fall.
Some candidates for Cambridge City Council are vowing to roll back the city’s historic rezoning approved by the current council in February.
Abundant Housing Massachusetts (AHMA) has endorsed candidates in seven cities, including two Somerville city council candidates, but not made an endorsement in the mayoral race.
