After much debate over whether or not the blue-and-yellow DIY furniture behemoth that is IKEA would be good for Somerville, IKEA has received permits to start building at Assembly Square.

George Hassett at the Somerville News reports that construction will begin next summer, 10 years after IKEA first started making noise about moving in.

That doesn't mean everyone's issues with the IKEA have been resolved. Somerville residents still want dibs on the jobs the IKEA will bring, and people are horrified at the prospect of traffic gridlock. And there will be gridlock--particularly on opening weekend and every fall, when the college students go to pick up their disposable Malm dressers, Leksvik bedframes, and Flarke bookshelves. It's a tough call--when a business comes knocking, the community has to decide between the money or their peace and quiet.

However, IKEA is attempting to sweeten the pot for those who like Somerville the way it is. Hassett notes at the bottom of his piece that IKEA will donate $1 million to the city. They should use some of it to install more traffic lights.

The mayor of Somerville, Joseph Curtatone, has announced that the construction of an Assembly Square Orange Line stop will get started soon. That's great for people who live in Assembly Square, but can you imagine people trying to hump a dresser or a mattress through the T system? You think they won't try it, but they will.