Comments for Somerville Voices

Comment on 5/16/13 Joint Public Hearing of Planning Board and Land Use Committee by David Dahlbacka

David Dahlbacka — Thu, 16 May 2013 11:54:32 +0000

E-mail to Planning Board and Land Use Committee

May 16, 2013

Memo to:

George Proakis, Director of Planning, City of Somerville
Tom Taylor, Chair, Land Use Committee, City of Somerville

From:

David Dahlbacka
25 Hancock Street
Somerville MA 02144

Re: Proposed ordinance amending Somerville zoning 6.4.8.D(2)(b) to permit a supermarket that exceeds the Assembly Square ground level retail size cap.

This note is to express my opposition to the proposed zoning change. The proposed supermarket is a one-story, 130,000 s.f. structure about a block away from the Assembly Square Orange Line T-Stop, now under construction. Because of the new T-stop, this is prime real estate, an ideal location for high-rise office and R&D development. Locking it down with a one-story supermarket is a wasted opportunity.

The facts are these:

* The city has committed $50 M in future property tax revenues to pay for Assembly Square infrastructure. The Commonwealth has committed $58 M of iCubed funding in the expectation of future income and sales tax revenues.

* The city has committed to a Comprehensive Plan that designates Assembly Square as a transformational area, a high-density economic engine for Somerville.

* Fully developed with high-rise office and R&D, the site could bring 15,000 permanent jobs and $33,000,000 in annual property tax revenue.

* Developed with a one-story 130,000 s.f. supermarket, the site would bring only 200 permanent jobs and $320,000 in annual property tax revenue — one one-hundredth the benefit to Somerville.

The arguments in favor of the zoning change boil down to fear that if Federal Realty does not buy the IKEA site right now, it will never be developed. This scenario makes no business sense. The site is within easy walking distance of the new Assembly Square T-Stop. Interest rates are low. Federal Realty is only one of many major developers in the Boston area. Once the T-Stop opens, other developers will be eager to take advantage of low interest rates to develop office and R&D there.

True, Assembly Square could use a supermarket. However, to preserve the site’s potential, such a supermarket should only be allowed on the first floor of a high-rise office/R&D development.

Support the Comprehensive Plan. How credible is the Plan if we abandon it the first time someone wants to bypass it?

Thank you for your attention.

Comment on Public TV and Walmart: WGBH Responds by Julia

Julia — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 01:49:27 +0000

PBS and WGBH have more than a few unsavory corporate sponsors, including several Big Oil companies and a foundation run by one of the Koch brothers.

As long as WGBH/PBS can keep an airtight firewall, I’d much rather see this wealth put to good use supporting quality TV than spent lobbying or buying elections.

Comment on Tell legislators you want a real solution for transportation financing! by Albertville

Albertville — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 02:59:37 +0000

The Green Line Extension will benefit developers and backroom wheeler-dealers who’ll gentrify Union Square and blast the working class out of the area…

Do you deny this? Is this a worthwhile tradeoff for you?

Easy for you to pontificate about transportation funding while you’re sitting pretty yourself, hypocrite!

Comment on Why Should ‘Villens Consider Livestock Grazing (Ever)? by Linda

Linda — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 23:00:46 +0000

If you missed the talk, view the recent TED talk.
http://www.ted.com/talks/allan_savory_how_to_green_the_world_s_deserts_and_reverse_climate_change.html?fb_action_ids=10200344695132512&fb_action_types=og.likes&fb_source=other_multiline&action_object_map=%7B%2210200344695132512%22%3A276413572491671%7D&action_type_map=%7B%2210200344695132512%22%3A%22og.likes%22%7D&action_ref_map=%5B%5D

You’ll be glad you did!

Comment on 3/5/13 Beacon Street Public Meeting by Sam Coren

Sam Coren — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 14:42:25 +0000

David,
The beacon project is not controversial just because the design removes parking, it’s also unsafe for cyclists and pedestrians. The design doesn’t adhere to MassDOT, AASHTO, or NACTO guidelines for bikeway design. There are likely to be several pedestrian conflicts and collisions with turning cars and cyclists.

Comment on Editorial: Getting on board with Obamacare by @BarryRafkind

@BarryRafkind — Sun, 03 Mar 2013 04:10:04 +0000

While Obamacare contains some important reforms, such as preventing denial of coverage for pre-existing conditions, and allowing children to stay on their parents’ policies longer, it does basically nothing to control soaring health care costs that are unsustainable and bankrupting our nation. It’s also ridiculous that the federal government would attempt to force people to buy health insurance from wealthy corporations when it (the federal gov’t) ought to provide all Americans with universal health coverage which would lead to better health outcomes at much lower cost. This mess won’t be fixed until we have Medicare for All aka single payer healthcare, like our military service members already have.

Comment on Assembly Square betrayal? by @BarryRafkind

@BarryRafkind — Sat, 02 Mar 2013 01:47:12 +0000

Thanks, Bill. What you say makes sense. But why were Aldermen Jack Connolly and (former Alderman) Bill Roche helping FRIT by submitting the zoning ordinance? Smells fishy to me.

Comment on Why a new library? by Joe Beckmann

Joe Beckmann — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 16:00:38 +0000

What about electronic copies? Or, for that matter, scrolls?

Comment on Why a new library? by Laura Saunders

Laura Saunders — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 14:49:05 +0000

Just wanted to share some great press on the Somerville Public Library: note the partnership with Harvard, and that we are the FIRST in the nation with this program:
http://www.infodocket.com/2013/02/25/massachusetts-sommerville-public-library-partners-with-harvard-library-lab-becomes-first-public-libary-tawesome-box-now-available-at-all-spl-branches/

and

http://bestofpublib.wordpress.com/

Comment on Why a new library? by Richard Shortt

Richard Shortt — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 04:19:36 +0000

Thanks Joe. You have raised a serious concern relating to the siting of a central library. Most residents will not use the Green Line to get to the library. It will mostly bring people to and from Boston and beyond to/from work with some reverse flow to Somerville “hot spots.”

As has been mentioned the Somerville Library’s central purpose will and should be to serve residents. I would not expect many non residents to be drawn to a library. Theatrical use of auditorium(s),etc. should draw residents as its primary public purpose supported by public construction & operating funding.

Privately funded venues should serve to draw non residents to Somerville. Yes, residents using the library will help local nearby businesses, but is this the best location to serve all of Somerville?

If the bus routes are reconfigured to use Green Line stations as terminals, how do we know how many buses will bring (especially limited income) residents to Union or will they drop off at Ball, Lowell,etc.? How do folks living in Winter Hill, at the Mystic Housing or St. Polycarp Village get to Union Square by public transit? No bus now goes there directly and will such bus/subway access be developed when Sullivan is more accessible? Same for many other areas of our city.

Even if residents were to use the Green Line they would have to change somewhere to get the dedicated train to Union.

Lots of food here for thought and a planning puzzle of many dimensions.