by David Dahlbacka in All Ages, Assembly Square, Beat Reporter, City Finances, Development and Zoning, Environment and Open Space, Events, Green Line, Housing, Red Line, Union Square
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 4:58 pm
| June 25, 2012 | ||
| 5:30 pm | to | 8:00 pm |
loading…
Somerville Redevelopment Authority Meeting
Mon. Jun. 25 5:30 – 8:00 PM
Somerville City Hall
3rd Fl. Conf. Rm.
93 Highland Ave.
Somerville MA (map)
This is a meeting of the Somerville Redevelopment Authority. According to state law, Redevelopment Authorities are empowered to buy and sell property, acquire property through eminent domain, and grant tax concessions.
Agenda includes the Assembly Square 2002 Revitalization Plan, the Union Square Revitalization Plan, and the proposed SRA website.
For more information, see How to Organize a Redevelopment Authority (PDF) .
loading…
Beat Report: 6/25/12 Somerville Redevelopment Authority Meeting
Bottom Line on Top
Assembly Row block 2 to start residential-over-retail next year. Resurrecting contract between City and SRA in context of Union Square Revitalization, to be treated as Urban Renewal Plan. To introduce draft plan this summer. Reviewing amendment to Assembly Square DIF economic development proposal going to BOA and state. Has to be done by Nov. 1, otherwise $10M due to state. Redevelopment money to be applied to Winter Hill zoning. Tentative next meeting: Thursday July 26 @5:30.
Rough Notes
Assembly Square Drive
Legal action to name an unused piece of Assembly Square drive to deed to SRA for $1. Parcel 2C FRIT owns. FRIT gets the parcel to develop a tall building.
Moved to name parcel. Passed. Signed with blue pen to indicate original. Sealed it.
Design redevelopment Assembly Row tenants in common. Consideration deed to SRA / City of new Assembly Square Drive. Waiver of appraisals appropriate. Redevelopment land swaps. Then authorize SRA chair to sign land disposition and deed.
Move. To pass, vote Aye. Sign in blue.
Discussion of Union Square Revitalization
Want to resurrect contract between City and SRA. (Joke: Now’s the time to negotiate.) Move and second, pass. (Joke: “Pay for trip to Florida.”)
OSPCD Director Glavin: City has great hopes for Union Square. Went to “Made in Union Square” event. Think we can improve this with comprehensive approach related to Green Line T-Stop at Union Square. The first Green Line stop in Somerville is to be Union Square, to be done end of 2016. Want to be ready. To introduce draft plan for area this summer. Traffic an issue. Water an issue. Land and buildings not at best use. Davis Square came to its own with Red Line stop. Working on new plan. Needs to be approved by you. Public meetings. Approach property owners in area. Lot of work regarding face of area. Preserve some, higher development for others. Still committed to a plan.
Q: Project as urban renewal plan?
A: Yes, subject to your approval.
Q: Parameters of urban renewal plan?
A: Presentation with map to come. GLX stop at bridge. Area should be large enough for walking distance. Past church is residential. Plaza area part of it. Could get to Bow St. Lots of good work done before. Some zoning changes already made, maybe more required.
Chair: Happy to hear about this. Been through several plans, lot of work. No one could say “this is the best plan for this area.” Have had piecemeal plans. We knew that the plan wasn’t good for whole area. Like once there was a marble box development in an area not suited to it. Glad you’re looking at it.
Director: Hope to lay foundation for good design. Want your best thoughts.
SRA member: Like Thursday night Farmer’s market, Saturday Farmer’s market too.
SRA Web Page
Ann looking for someone to do the work. Ann to me: “Do you know how to do a web site?” My answer: “Yes, but not in your setup.” A member remarked that the City IT department has people who know how to do this.
[COMMENT: For obvious reasons, it would be a bad idea for me to develop the SRA web site. They need to get resources from the City.]
Commonwealth paid $10 M to FRIT. Supposed to be paid back May 1. Extended due date to Nov. 1. Propose to support $10 M bond with blocks 10, 1, 3, 4, 2. Block 2 to be residential over retail by Mystic River. Due to be in for permits, out of ground next year. Bond based on $950K net new revenue. Reviewing amendment to economic development proposal going to BOA and state. Has to be done by Nov. 1, otherwise $10M due to state.
Meeting late July? August? If we get Union Square plan submitted, want public meetings. Build SRA meetings about those.
Tentative: Thursday July 26 @5:30.
Jeff Levine: Now Urban Development director in Portland ME. Right thing to do. Keep a house down here. Exciting place. Tuck O’Brien on Planning Board in Portland ME. Went to law school.
Jeff: Tuck O’Brien working for renewable energy company now. 2nd child. 2 boys.
Moved and second to adjourn.
Chair: Give our best to Tuck O’Brien. He was in the Hague. Brynie Hinklie lives in Portland, does development down here. Tuck should get in touch with R.J, general counsel of a firm. Ann going on trip. Needs to arrive early for airport security. Happy summer. See you in July or something.
[COMMENT: After the meeting, I approached Director Glavin to ask him about the other area plans along the proposed Green Line Extension. He was noncommittal, but mentioned that they intend to use grant money to develop rezoning for the Winter Hill area, which is in a "donut hole" between other development areas.]
loading...