Green Line Extension meeting, Oct 23. 6:30pm High School

[mem_winterhill]

Just spotted this in the Resistat newsletter this week.

Green Line Extension Meeting, 10/23
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation Green Line Extension Team is holding a meeting to update the public about the project and about ongoing early construction in Somerville.

When/where: Mon., Oct. 23, from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Somerville High School, 81 Highland Ave. Contact info@glxinfo.comwith questions.

PS: if you aren't signed up for the Resistat newsletter, you should. Lots of great info on city programs, events, news, etc. Everyone I talk to at the Powder House says they heard about the access from Resistat. Here's this week's in full: http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?m=1106537889473&ca=94372e1c-7e68-4ae9-87d5-28456f2983fb

Real estate development in Ward 5, including 55-unit, 5-story, mixed-use development proposed

[mem_winterhill]

I know this is the far side of our Hill, and it appears to be mostly in Medford. But FYI, from Mark Niedergang's newsletter today:

The biggest development news in Ward 5 is the proposed 55-apartment, 5-story, mixed-use development at 519 Broadway (Somerville)/87 Medford Street (Medford). There will be a community meeting at the site this Tuesday, October 17, 6:30 PM, 519 Broadway, in the Office Liquidators store. The developer, Charlie Zammuto, will present the plans & address questions and concerns. I have a copy of the plans, if you would like to see them email me and I will send them to you.

Only a tiny portion of this development is in Somerville, most is in Medford, set back from Broadway along Medford St. So it is unlikely that the Somerville Zoning Board of Appeals will have much say over the project. The Medford Board of Appeals (zoning board) will be making the decisions about this project, possibly at their October 24th meeting.

Concerns so far in Somerville have focused on traffic impacts in the Magoun Square neighborhood. I don’t see parking as a likely concern. There are 91 parking spaces in the plans (more than enough in my opinion and that of Somerville Planning Director George Proakis) and it is highly unlikely that residents of the building will be able to get stickers or guest passes to park in Somerville. I would certainly fight against that with everything I could muster, if necessary.

I am waiting to take a position on this project until the meeting is held and we can hear from the neighbors and the community. At the Medford Zoning Board meeting on September 26, Joe Lynch, a few other Magoun Square residents, and I asked for more time to consider the plans and express our views. They granted that. Their next meeting is October 24th at 7 PM at Medford City Hall. I plan to attend to express concerns that Somerville residents have. If you have objections you can express them there, at the community meeting on October 17th, let me know, and/or email the Medford Board of Appeals c/o their clerk, Denis MacDougall, dmacdougall@medford-ma.gov