Former industrial buildings, as seen from the river in the 1970s
The southern Foley Street/Assembly Square area
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Walk back toward the Winter Hill Yacht Club, and turn left on Foley Street, the paved roadway that runs parallel to the Orange Line tracks and then takes a bend to the right. The land in front of you was occupied by heavy industry until recently -- machine products and petroleum uses. The factories have been taken down and the land has been partly cleaned up, but it is not currently suited for uses that involve high contact with people. Plans are nearing completion for upgrading streets and utilities in this area. Future development in this area will include facilities to accommodate enhanced public access to the riverfront.
Keep walking down Foley Street until it intersects with Assembly Square Drive. You will pass the Central Steel Company, a long-standing industrial use. In the forties it was called L.E. Zurbach Steel Co. Turn left on Assembly Square Drive. The building on the corner to your left was at one time a warehouse for Sears and Roebuck; it is now occupied by several businesses, including commercial uses such as the World Gym and Good Time Emporium. There is a nine acre tract of land in the rear of this area that the city is in the process of acquiring from the MBTA. Continue along Assembly Square Drive. Land uses continue to evolve on either side of the roadway. For example, a former oil company property is now used by USA Waste for truck storage.
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When you get to the end of Assembly Square Drive, you will come to the beginning of the tour loop at Mystic Avenue. Retrace your initial steps (cross under the highway by way of Lombardi Street) to return to Sullivan Station. Alternatively, you may turn around and walk back on Assembly Square Drive toward Foley Street to the bus stop for the 90 or 92 bus. The Crosstown Shuttle can be boarded at the Assembly Square Mall MBTA stop.
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