Comments for Somerville Voices

Comment on Be verrry verrry quiet…I’m hunting butterflies! by eila

eila — Thu, 17 May 2012 19:09:03 +0000

That is so beautiful thank you Mary!

Comment on 5/8/12 Somerville Redevelopment Authority Meeting by David Dahlbacka

David Dahlbacka — Sun, 13 May 2012 23:51:23 +0000

Beat Report: 5/8/12 Somerville Redevelopment Authority Meeting

Present: Busnach, McCarthy, Bonney, Gage. Levine absent.

Bottom Line on Top

Reports on the closing at 258 Somerville Ave., the Assembly Square groundbreaking, negotiations with the MBTA on land acquisitions in Union Square, and on the proposed SRA web site.

Rough Notes

[Comment: Side remark that everybody in Boston is interrelated.]

Approval of 3/20/12 Minutes

Approved. OK not to include David Dahlbacka in the minutes as observer.

258 Somerville Ave.

Closed on it last week. City providing $. In front of 4 Mill Pl. Inquiry from Somerville Journal reporter about why acquired. Answer was to prepare for T-stop. Prospect North Block. City wants to control as much as possible. SRA had $, bought it last week $26K. There are about 9 parcels in area. Somerville Journal reporter asking about 258 Somerville Ave.

[Comment: Side remark complimenting reporter on improved quality of Somerville Journal articles.]

Assembly Square

Terrific groundbreaking last week. 5 or 6 old Edsels as color. Gov. not there, Secs. there. (MBTA, etc.) Mentioned Anne Thomas as a possible street name. We wouldn’t be so far along if she had not won cases for us. Restaurant going up. Parcels for others being graded.

Union Square

Still working on MOA with MBTA on acquiring station parcels. City wants air rights. In next year, plan for city acquiring air rights. Never did air rights before. Have lots of train track in Somerville to work with.

Trinity (School St. Boston) built and sold to Avalon Bay rental apts. at North Station over Orange Line. Last T air rights case. Another residential project in play at back end of Boston Garden.

Web Site

SRA web site suggested by David Dahlbacka. Will be investigating this, have City IT dept. put it together.

Next mtg: Thurs, June 7. 5:30 PM.

Adjourned 17:50.

[Comment: Side remarks on meeting up with the young attorney who argued so emotionally on the Central Steel case 10 years before.]

Comment on “From Mansions to Mudflats” walking tour Sunday May 6 by Mary

Mary — Sun, 13 May 2012 13:47:50 +0000

I wish I had the tech skills to help, but I don’t code. However, I am a dynamite software tester, have great patience for beta tools, and am willing to test anything.

Comment on “From Mansions to Mudflats” walking tour Sunday May 6 by Brandon Wilson

Brandon Wilson — Sun, 13 May 2012 03:53:47 +0000

What a great idea, Mary! We had already starting scheming about just how to do that, and are in the process of trying to find an someone, perhaps an intern or someone looking for some community service to execute the idea. We have lots of self-guided tour brochures already, have begun discussions w. both Shape Up Somerville and the Council on Aging staff, and need the tech support to follow though — anyone interested??

Comment on Be verrry verrry quiet…I’m hunting butterflies! by MaryM

MaryM — Sat, 12 May 2012 22:11:41 +0000

Definitely American Lady visitors! I was able to see the distinguishing white spot on several of them.

Comment on Announcing the “Somerville Stock Exchange” community art project by Tim

Tim — Mon, 07 May 2012 13:46:38 +0000

Thanks Eila! Hope you decide to participate!
-Tim

Comment on “From Mansions to Mudflats” walking tour Sunday May 6 by Mary

Mary — Mon, 07 May 2012 13:10:45 +0000

So this gave me an idea: I think the city teams should get some grant money and do a project on history/trivia walks. Get Preservation + Public Health together, and encourage people to walk the city with routes and some audio.

Make “walk apps” like the tour of the Boston Public Garden that people with smart phones can take.

My housemate and I are trying to walk more, and we’d like to find new walks with interesting things to see and know.

Comment on “From Mansions to Mudflats” walking tour Sunday May 6 by Brandon Wilson

Brandon Wilson — Mon, 07 May 2012 03:31:23 +0000

Glad you enjoyed it, Mary, and tx for telling others via FB about it, AND for the add’l from wikipedia above!
Hope to see you next Sun. at the 3 Decker Talk at the Somerville Museum at 2pm, which IS still noticed on City’s website

Comment on Announcing the “Somerville Stock Exchange” community art project by eila

eila — Mon, 07 May 2012 03:16:31 +0000

this is totally cool. Thanks, Tim!

Comment on “From Mansions to Mudflats” walking tour Sunday May 6 by Mary

Mary — Mon, 07 May 2012 01:02:07 +0000

That was informative and fun too! I had no idea that the first house to have a phone line was in Somerville: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Williams_Jr._House Somerville had phone numbers 1 and 2 of the Bell Telephone Company.

So of course I had to know more, and I found out that in fact Alexander Graham Bell was using sound from Somerville in his demos of the transmissions! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invention_of_the_telephone#Public_demonstrations

I love that stuff.