by David Dahlbacka in All Ages, Beat Reporter, City Finances, Development and Zoning, Environment and Open Space, Events, Housing, Neighborhoods and Squares
Posted on July 15, 2012 at 4:47 pm
Last Modified on July 25, 2012 at 9:56 pm
| July 26, 2012 | ||
| 5:30 pm | to | 7:30 pm |
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Somerville Redevelopment Authority Meeting
Thurs. Jul. 26 5:30 – 8:00 PM
Somerville City Hall
3rd Fl. Conf. Rm.
93 Highland Ave.
Somerville MA (map)
Paper agenda only.
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 authorization for a Minor Plan Change naming the IKEA parcel as an Acquisition Parcel and Disposition Parcel.
Agenda also includes Union Square Revitalization Plan and the proposed Somerville Redevelopment Authority web page.
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Agenda includes the Assembly Square 2002 Revitalization Plan authorization for a Minor Plan Change naming the IKEA parcel as an Acquisition Parcel and Disposition Parcel.
Agenda also includes Union Square Revitalization Plan and the proposed Somerville Redevelopment Authority web page.
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Beat Report: 7/26/12 Somerville Redevelopment Authority Meeting
Bottom Line on Top
SRA named the IKEA site at Assembly Square an acquisition and disposition parcel, a minor plan change to the 2002 Revitalization Plan. It will select a redeveloper [COMMENT: likely Federal Realty], buy the site with the redevelopers money, give it to the redeveloper. Plan change to go to Somerville BOA around September. Union Square Revitalization Plan update to BOA August 16, joint public hearing BOA/SRA to come likely early September. SRA web site to start development with basic information over next few months.
Rough Notes
Chair Nancy (Lotus, Wang, 3COM real estate), Eva (health care), Bill (ex-MEPA office), Jeff (ex-OSPCD), Jim (ex-MBTA). Anne Thomas (Somerville legal staff).[Jim & Jeff arrived late.]
5:40 start.
Anne’s replacement: Eileen McGediggan. Real estate and municipal lawyer. Introductions.
May 8 minutes approved. June 25 minutes approved.
2002 Assembly Square Revitalization Plan
Action naming IKEA as acquisition and disposition parcel.
Thomas: Last week IKEA announced it is not building. Mayor’s position: IKEA yes great, IKEA no great. No means development is closer to Cecil Plan. Relationship with IKEA cordial. Aware Somerville wants to redevelop parcel. Original IKEA site was on river side. IKEA extends from New Road to tracks. Tapered to Yard 21. Now includes AmeriGas, Yard 21, Spaulding Brick, Sturtevant properties (Good Times Emporium, trucks). These were mentioned in 2002 plan change. Appropriate to rename as acquisition and disposition property. Talked to Office of Housing and Community Development, and they’re OK to make this a minor plan change.
Question: City to acquire?
Somerville Redevelopment Authority to put out a disposition request. Will select a designated redeveloper. You could designate someone already there. Property to be acquired with their money, given to them. SRA approves, to Board of Aldermen around September time frame. OHCD approves devel, price, agreement.
Resolution to sign by secretary. Moved and seconded per attached plan. Roll call: 5 ayes.
Union Square Revitalization
Process of being finalized, to submit plan to BOA August 16. Hoping to meet then. To be disseminated to SRA same time. They’ll review it.
Question: Will they wait for us?
Public Hearing at BOA after August 16, make it a joint hearing with SRA. Planning Board has to vote also that it’s OK by Comprehensive Plan. We think it is. Estimate the joint meeting not last 2 weeks in August. More likely the 1st or 2nd week of September. There will likely be informational meetings in the meantime, not public hearing. Chair remarked that we’ve been through this many times before.
Chair, to Anne Thomas: Good agreement you did with IKEA. Should name a roadway Anne Thomas Road.
Web Page on Somerville City Web Site
IT person home with sore throat.
[COMMENT: Chair joked they were doing this to keep "a certain person quiet". I winked at her.]
Looked at sample pages, such as Somerville Housing Authority.
Material to include names of members, agendas, minutes, description (4 members appointed by Mayor, 1 appointed by Governor). Governing law (121(b)), urban renewal plan history.
Old web site had brief description. Brian will expand on this when he’s OK. Give him the text, he sets it up. We’ll look at it. (Anne T. always intimidated by web sites.)
Next Meeting
Before August 16? They’d have just gotten the plan update. 1st or 2nd week of September. Thursday after Labor Day (September 6)?
The primary election is September 6.
[COMMENT: It's illegal to hold a meeting on the same day as an election.]
Tentative: September 13 @5:30. Need public hearing around then too.
Jim: It will be a rough election this time. Bomb throwing around then. 13th is Thursday. Staff has to be here till 7:30 for BOA, etc., anyway.
Adjourned 6:00 PM
[Table talk after meeting until 6:10.]
Chair to Jeff: Say hi to R.J. in Portland Tuck O’Brien there. His company is launching Maine’s first tidal energy center.
Chair to Eileen: You have big shoes to fill. Anne’s last day is August 17. Whole city respects her. Anne T. said they shouldn’t name a street after me, maybe name a fountain.
Chair: Assembly Square wouldn’t have gone so smooth without Anne pushing. There were hills and valleys, 9/11, lost developer, FRIT with deep pockets. Acquired the railroad area for IKEA. People were living in railroad cars there. Well done by FRIT to do land swap. Project much better designed because of that. We can acquire, but we never had to do it paid for by City. The developer paid for all lots. Everybody left peaceably in the end. Will be a stunning location, bigger than Fan Pier.
Chair: Who would have thought we’d get an Orange Line station. We never gave up. This is the dawn of a new day. I was born at Somerville Hospital. Somervillians are very proud now. This was Slummerville back then. Not anymore. It’s a destination city, particularly after bringing the Red Line into Davis, cleaning it up. Immigrants could always buy a home. Proud of their heritage. My great-grandfather served in Civil War. Everybody took pride in ownership. Homes in Somerville show their pride.
[COMMENT: As Tip O'Neill said, "There's no limit to the amount of good you can do as long as you don't insist on getting credit for it."]
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