Assembly Square facts for kids
Assembly Square is a lively neighborhood in Somerville, Massachusetts, USA. It sits right by the Mystic River. This area is famous for its modern development called Assembly Row. It's a fun place with lots of shops, restaurants, homes, and offices.
The neighborhood is named after a big Ford Motor Company factory that used to be here. It's easy to get to Assembly Square by subway. The MBTA Orange Line stops right at Assembly station.
Contents
History of Assembly Square
How the Area Grew
Long ago, in the 1600s, the land near the Mystic River was wet and marshy. Early settlers didn't use it much. But nearby, on higher ground, was a good farm owned by John Winthrop, Massachusetts' first Governor.
The river was great for moving people and goods. The first seagoing ship built in this area was launched here! Later, the Middlesex Canal (a man-made waterway) helped trade grow even more. By the early 1800s, many shipyards were along the river.
Then, railroads became popular. Two railroads were built through Somerville in the mid-1800s. This brought even more growth to the area.
Factory Days
In 1926, the Ford Motor Company built a huge car factory here. This factory gave Assembly Square its name! Other businesses, like a big grocery company called First National Stores, also moved in. This area became a major place for jobs.
But in 1958, the Ford plant closed down. This was a big blow to the area, as many people lost their jobs. Over time, other industries also left, moving to places where land was cheaper. A big highway, Interstate 93, was built in the 1970s. This made it harder to get to Assembly Square. By 1976, the industrial era here had ended.
Bringing the Area Back to Life
In 1979, Somerville decided to fix up Assembly Square. They wanted to turn it into a new, exciting place. The old Ford factory was changed into a shopping mall called Assembly Square Mall. It opened in 1980 with many stores, including Kmart and Jordan Marsh.
Later, in 1992, a big Home Depot store opened nearby. But the mall started to struggle. By 1999, most of it was closed, except for Kmart and another store called Building 19.
People in the community wanted a better plan for the area. They imagined a place with homes, offices, and shops, all easy to walk around. They didn't want just big, single stores.
In 1999, IKEA, the famous furniture store, bought some land by the river. But there were disagreements about building a huge store right on the waterfront. This stopped development for a while.
A New Vision: Smart Growth
In the early 2000s, Somerville created a new plan. They wanted Assembly Square to be a lively place 24 hours a day. It would have homes, shops, offices, a movie theater, restaurants, a hotel, and green spaces.
In 2005, a company called Federal Realty Investment Trust (FRIT) bought the old mall and other properties. They quickly updated the mall into the Assembly Square Marketplace we see today.
Later, FRIT and IKEA worked together. They swapped land so that IKEA would build further inland. This left the beautiful waterfront open for FRIT to create a pedestrian-friendly area. This new plan was very popular!
IKEA eventually decided not to build a store here in 2012. FRIT then bought IKEA's land, meaning FRIT now owns most of Assembly Square.
In April 2012, construction began on the new Assembly Row. This included new apartment buildings, a main street, and the new subway station. Assembly Row officially opened in 2014.
Over the years, new stores have opened and some old ones have closed. Kmart, for example, closed in 2019.
Assembly Row and Marketplace
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Assembly Row is the main part of Assembly Square. It's a modern area with a mix of everything. You'll find many shops, restaurants, and places to live and work. There's also a big 12-screen movie theater.
One exciting place here is the Legoland Discovery Centre. It's an indoor family fun center based on Lego toys. It opened in 2014. Other popular stores include Nike, Brooks Brothers, and Le Creuset. You can also grab a treat at J.P. Licks ice cream shop.
Many companies have their offices here too. For example, Partners HealthCare System, a big hospital group, moved many of its offices to Assembly Row in 2016. SmartBear Software also moved its headquarters here.
Assembly Square Marketplace is a retail area within Assembly Square. It used to be an enclosed mall. Today, it has stores like Staples, Burlington, Bed Bath & Beyond, TJ Maxx & HomeGoods, and Trader Joe's.
Parks
Assembly Square is also home to some lovely green spaces. On the north side, along the Mystic River, you'll find Sylvester Baxter Riverfront Park. This park was improved as part of the Assembly Square development.
There's also Draw 7 Park, which is a narrow strip of land next to the Mystic River. Plans are in place to build a special walkway underpass. This will connect Baxter Park to the larger Mystic River Reservation, offering even more space for walking and enjoying nature.
See Also
- Somerville Assembly
Images for kids
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View of the marketplace in 2012
