Winter Hill Residents Celebrate Demolition Of Abandoned Grocery Store

SOMERVILLE, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — Residents in Winter Hill gathered Saturday to celebrate the demolition of an abandoned Star Market on Broadway in Somerville.

Songs like "The Dog Days Are Over" and "Burning Down The House" were on the demolition party playlist at Winter Hill Brewing Company, as residents gathered to watch the start of demolition on the grocery store. Mary has lived there for decades said she was so happy that she was even willing to give constructions crews a hand.

"I'm willing to tear down any part they let me," she said.

It's the first step in a massive new development that will include new affordable housing, retail, and a plaza with a parking community space. Somerville Mayor-elect Jake Wilson says he can't wait for the building to come down.

"It's been an eye sore," Wilson said. "It's been a source of shame honestly for our neighborhood for far too long and I'm really excited about what this means in terms of a new day, a new era for the neighborhood and what's going to spring up in its place, which is a really excellent project.".

The Star Market had been abandoned for 17 years. The demolition will make way for the new 299 Broadway development. City Councilor Jesse Clingan, who represents Winter Hill, has lived in the area for most of his life. He says this new development will be a game changer for one of the city's less developed neighborhoods.

"I always imagined, rather than this be a sort of a thoroughfare, a place where people are just driving through," Clingan said. "We could actually have a development or create a space where community could come together."

About half of the over 300 new units will be affordable. Mary said she sees this as a welcome change for the neighborhood.

"I think it's great to have new neighbors and it'll be good for the businesses around here as well," she said.

WBZ NewsRadio’s Kyle Bray (@KyleBrayWBZ) reports.