TARGET: The Brickbottom Artists Building is on Fitchburg St, at the end of Chestnut St in Somerville. You can park on Chestnut St. Fitchburg St is in an industrial estate next to Union Square. Lechmere station is the nearest T stop - walk up McGrath past the Holiday Inn and the Star Market. The 87 bus does stop at the Target store next to McGrath highway, and you can walk along the scary alley under the highway (past Pat's Tow) which comes out by the Brickbottom building.
Below I give several different routes to get to Fitchburg St, which is somewhat well hidden.
MAP 1: Where is East Somerville relative to the center of civilization at Harvard Square?
MAP 2: Approaching from Union Square (or the 87 bus)
Continue along Somerville Ave (red) or come down from Highland to McGrath and take Somerville Ave exit (purple) to the intersection next to the Target store (marked "T" in blue). Ahead of you is the ramp up onto McGrath; head for this and miss, taking instead the scary little alley (green dashed line) just to the right of it which goes past Pat's Tow and under the highway, coming out right at the Brickbottom building.
MAP 3: Approaching from Lechmere along McGrath Highway
Approach from Lechmere, on ramp from McGrath just after crossing the railway. If you get to the Mercedes dealer you missed the first turn, but the next right to Linwood St will also work.
MAP 4A: Approach from Washington St via the Independent pub
Approach Union Square from the Porter Sq direction along Somerville Ave (1, blue track) or from the Harvard Sq direction (Kirtland to Dali's to Washington St, 1A, red track). At the main Union Sq intersection (2) turn onto the left lane of the combined Somerville Ave/Washington St, continue to next lights (3) where you turn left onto Washington St. Follow Washington as it curves around to the McGrath Highway intersection.
MAP 4B: Continued...
You need to get to the part of Washington St between McGrath Hwy/Union Sq and Sullivan Sq. Immediately as you leave Union Sq going underneath McGrath you see a railway bridge just ahead - turn right just beforehand, down Joy St. into the industrial estate. If you see the Cobble Hill apartments sign, you goofed and forgot to turn before the bridge. Joy St becomes Chestnut St, you'll see the building at the end of the street. Park somewhere on Chestnut, or on Linwood.
MAP 5: Overview of E Somerville with Fitchburg St marked.
