June 6 WHNA Meeting Notes

[ian_winterhill]

 Hello,

Here are the notes from the June 6 meeting.

June 6, 2018 WHNA Meeting Notes

 

Updates/Recent Meetings

 

ResiStat

• The usual presentation of city wide data, but notable absence of attention to Star Market lot, neighborhood plans, and Ward specific happenings.
• Resolved to send individual emails to the Communications Director with suggestions for improvements and cc Alderman Clingan. Some things people wanted to see were updates about City programs, Ward specific updates, attention to big developments in the Ward, and more thorough Q and A. 
• Send emails to Denise Taylor, Communications Director, dtaylor@somervillema.gov

GLX

• Justin M. gave us all an update on GLX construction
• They are starting on pre-construction and tree work
• They released a schedule of bridge closings that will have a significant impact, causing major rerouting of traffic. 
  • Closure highlights/lowlights: Broadway bridge near Ball Sq scheduled to be closed Nov 2018 to late 2019; Medford St Bridge near Pearl St closed May 2019 to Dec 2019; School St Bridge closed Dec 2019 to 2020.
• On Saturday, June 23 between 9 and 11 in Ball Sq, GLX project staff will be tabling for people to come ask questions

 

Central Hill Plan

• The Central Hill Campus (the 16 acre site where City Hall, the Library and the High School are located) is getting attention while the GLX and HS are under construction. Lots of concerns about parking and about making the Central Hill site connect with the Winter Hill side.
• Next Central Hill Plan meeting on June 20. Info here: https://www.somervillema.gov/departments/central-hill-plan

Gilman Square Neighborhood Association Block Party

• More details to come, but they are looking to host a big party in September on Richdale

Star Market Discussion

• Folks reacted to the presentation from the developer and expressed some of their own ideas for the space
  • Some, but not an exhaustive list, of the concerns included: Concern over the height; taking/forced sale of the corner (Winter Hill Liquor Mart, new barber shop, etc); quality of the open space—is it public? Is it accessible? How is it accounted? What about dogs?; impact on parking—can the new residents get city stickers instead of parking in the garage?; why make the building have an architectural focal point?; would like to see more retail; what retail can thrive in the internet shopping world?; can the displaced businesses or the neighborhood businesses have first dibs at the new retail space? 
  • can there be a different vision than luxury housing and a little retail?; what about a fitness center? Youth center? Elderly services? Arts venue? Culinary training center? Demonstration space? Maker space? Swing space? Satellite for Greentown Labs or other incubators
• Still unknown what the timeline is, but folks wanted to have a bigger meeting without the developer present to continue this discussion about what the neighborhood would like to see on the site
  • We are going to ask Alderman Clingan to help host a big community meeting in the middle of July. More plans to come.