Groundbreaking at 164 Essex Street
Written and Photographed by Nancy Clover
Ground has officially been broken for Cedar Park One64 at 164 Essex St, the former overflow parking lot for Melrose Wakefield Hospital.
This will bring 80 new apartments to Melrose, including 20 affordable units (for households earning up to 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI)).
Unit Breakdown:
- 6 Studios
- 56 One-Bedrooms
- 10 Two-Bedrooms
- 8 Three-Bedrooms
Key Features:
- 69 parking spaces
- Fifth-floor roof deck and setback with solar panels
- Work-from-home spaces
- Ground-floor common lounge opening to a patio
- Pet care room
- Bicycle room with repair station
- EV charging stations
Will this project increase traffic, parking demand, and use of municipal services? Of course. But it will provide much needed housing including an option for older Melrosians who want to age in place. Not to mention the boost to our local business and expand Melrose’s tax base.
A Personal Note:
For those inclined to say “Not in my backyard,” well... this is literally in my front yard. Am I thrilled about 18–24 months of construction? No! But as this project has already been approved, I see it a bit like the teenage years — you just have to push through it, and things hopefully turn out better on the other side.
