Vol. 2, No. 4
March 25, 2002
Contents
1) BROADWAY THEATER SCHEDULED FOR ALDERMANIC VOTE - AGAIN
At the Wednesday, March 13, meeting of the Committee on Finance, I moved to accept the
recommendation of the Broadway Theater Task Force to sell that property to Mudflat Pottery
Studio. The members of the committee voted to do so, 3 to 1, with one member absent. The
Committee chair reported this vote to the full Board the following night at its regular
meeting. In the midst of a roll call vote on the land disposition, Alderman at Large Bruce
Desmond invoked his right under the city charter to halt all debate on the matter.
The recommendation to sell the property to Mudflat became controversial soon after the Task
Force's January 24th vote. Dr. Mansour Werfalli, whose dental office is in the building,
made a complaint to the state's Inspector General that his redevelopment proposal was
unsuccessful because the selection process was unfair. That complaint was resolved favorably
to the city, but Dr. Werfalli has also brought a complaint about the matter to the
Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (MCAD).
The vote of the Board of Aldermen on the land disposition was as follows: Taylor: no;
Roche: absent; Connolly: yes; Provost: yes; Tarpley: no; Halloran: yes; Curtatone: yes;
McCallum: yes. Alderman Desmond would have voted next. Alderman O'Donovan, who
would have voted after, had voted against the transfer in committee, and had announced his
intention to vote against it again. Alderman White voted for the transfer in committee. The
matter will be back before the Board for a vote at its next meeting, on March 28.
2). DEVELOPER PROPOSES "AFFORDABLE" HOUSING FOR PROSPECT HILL
The Proposal
Developer Gerard Meehan has submitted to the city a proposal to construct a single building
comprising 30 condominium units on a 25,000 sq. foot parcel of land at 9-11 Aldersey
Street. The project would include demolition of the existing building, the historically
significant home of Quincy Vinal, one of Somerville's first settlers. The property has
previously been the subject of neighborhood controversy, as when all the mature trees on it
were cut down a few years ago. Also in recent years, a proposal to build nine units of
housing on the property was turned down.
Community Reaction
The latest proposal was presented at a neighborhood meeting on Monday, March 4, which
brought a standing-room-only crowd to the auditorium of the Central Library. Those in
attendance were clearly angry about the proposal itself, which was very short on information
and impact analysis; the architect's rendering of the proposed building, which was massive
and ugly; and on the developer's ram-it-down-the-neighborhood's throat approach. The city's
consultant suggested that, while it was unlikely that the city could defeat the developer's
proposal, it could "shape" it. One member of the audience responded, "should we negotiate
with terrorists?"
The property is zoned Residence "A," which normally allows for detached one- and two-family dwellings, a two-and-a-half story height limit, 25% minimum landscaped area, and
setbacks for the front, rear, and side yards, and a minimum of 2,250 square feet of lot area
per dwelling unit. This project will need variances from the dimensional and parking
requirements of the city's Zoning Ordinance, as well as a special permit for increased density
for affordable housing. If the developer is denied these local permits, he will be entitled to
appeal to the state Housing Appeals Committee for a reversal of the local action and issuance
of a Comprehensive Permit.
The Law
The Aldersey Street proposal is governed by Chapter 40B of the Massachusetts General
Laws, sections 20-23. These statutes, popularly known as the Anti-Snob Zoning Act, were
enacted as a way of forcing communities with inadequate supplies of affordable housing to
allow development of more affordable units. The statute exempts communities where more
than 10% of the total housing stock is affordable, as certified by the Commonwealth's
Department of Housing and Community Development(DHCD).
In communities with 10% or less affordable housing, developers denied local permits for
qualified projects may apply to the state's Housing Appeals Committee for an order to issue
a Comprehensive Permit. Such permits supersedes local zoning, or any conditions places on
a project by a Zoning Board of Appeals that render it "uneconomic." Somerville is presently
certified by DHCD as having 8.58% of its housing stock affordable.
This information came as rather a shock to me. At the October 11, 2001, meeting of the
Board of Aldermen, Somerville's Chief Assessor, Dick Brescia, told the Board that 11% of
the city's housing was classified as affordable. Brescia's testimony came as part of a
presentation on the Community Preservation Act, a mechanism for funding affordable
housing, open space, and historic preservation.
Does Somerville REALLY Have Fewer than 10% Affordable Units?
Officially, the answer is yes. The official answer, naturally, depends on what sort of units
may be counted. For purposes of the statute, "affordable" housing means units with certain
kinds of state or federal subsidies which meet certain other criteria, such as "permanence,"
or the duration of the subsidy. Shelters, half-way houses, and other forms of transitional
housing do not count for purposes of Ch. 40B. Nor do portable Section 8 vouchers, since,
although issued by local housing authorities, they can be used without geographic restriction.
So Maybe this Proposal is Really a Good Thing?
In my opinion, it is in no way a good thing. The proposed project is far too dense and bulky
for the neighborhood. The plan is almost entirely lacking in landscaping or open space. The
developer proposes to create 30 parking spaces under the building, which will require the
blasting of ledge, putting the foundations of neighboring buildings in peril. Adding insult to
injury, only eight of the thirty units would be affordable. This is the minimum percentage of
affordable units that the project must offer to qualify under state guidelines for a
Comprehensive Permit - a marginal gain in affordable units for a significant burden in built
density.
What Next?
I am working with Alderman Taylor and others on a many-pronged strategy to fight this
project. Beyond the detriment of this particular project to its neighborhood, my concern is
that other developers will pull this cute stunt elsewhere in Somerville, from now until such
time as Somerville qualifies for DHCD certification. I will be attending the next
neighborhood meeting with the developer concerning this project on Thursday, April 4, in
the auditorium of the Central Library, at 7:00 p.m., and the Planning Board hearing
scheduled for Thursday, April 18, at 6:30 p.m.
3) SECRETARY DURAND ISSUES CERTIFICATE FOR IKEA
In early February, I received a copy of the Certificate of the Secretary of Environmental
Affairs on the Expanded Environmental Notification Form (ENF) for the IKEA project for
Assembly Square. Secretary Durand is requiring both a Draft and Final Environmental
Impact Report for the project. This level of review will increase the amount of study and
analysis that IKEA must put into the project, as well as the opportunities for public
comment.
The Certificate contains an extensive and thoughtful analysis of the potential impacts of the
project - too extensive to summarize in this format, at this time. Copies of the certificate may
be had from EOEA ( EOEA # 12672, IKEA at Assembly Square, telephone # (617) 626-1000). Alternatively, Somerville's Office of Housing and Community Development (OHCD)
could supply a copy. Contact OHCD at (617) 625-6600 ext. 2500.
OHCD could also supply copies of the city's comments on the IKEA project, which were
quite good, and contain a memorandum from Rizzo Associates which provides some
fascinating analysis of the IKEA's traffic assumptions and projections. Rizzo Associates is at
work on a transportation study of Assembly Square commissioned by the city.
My comments on the IKEA ENF to EOEA are posted on my website.
4) SOMERVILLE MPO HEARING YIELD GREAT TURNOUT, SOME RESULTS
The February 13 Public Workshop held in Somerville by the Metropolitan Planning
Organization (MPO) on its 25 year Transportation Plan drew an impressive level of
participation. The March edition of the MPO newsletter, TRANS REPORT, reported that the
MPO's February outreach efforts "were generally well attended, averaging approximately 30
participants at each; over 80 people attended the busiest session."
I got right on the phone to the MPO staff: "Was that 'busiest session' here in Somerville?" I
asked. It was indeed, the staffer assured me, adding how "energized" the staff had been by
the lively discussion here. I mentioned that it would have been nice to see Somerville
identified as the location of the "busiest session." It had been included an earlier draft, and
was edited out, I was told.
Apart from pure turnout, there have been some concrete results. The MPO has budgeted $20
million for an Orange Line Stop at Assembly Square. I would have preferred to see the full
$27 million in the funding source that I had identified in my comments, but compared to the
previous amount of $0, it was an improvement. The MPO also restored $50 million
previously cut from a highway project, the I-93/ Route 28/ Mystic Avenue Intersection.
My comments to the MPO on its 25 year Transportation Plan are posted on my
website.
5) CITY EYES KILEY BARREL SITE
In February, I received a letter from Steve Post, Director of Somerville's Office of Housing
and Community Development (OHCD) informing Board members of a "potential land
acquisition" in Union Square. The "Kiley Barrel" site comprises 25,391 square feet adjacent
to the city-owned parking lot near the intersection of Somerville Avenue and Prospect Street.
OHCD and the Somerville Redevelopment Authority (SRA) have been "exploring the option
of acquiring the property" as a redevelopment site, according to Post.
Post writes: "Combined with future commuter rail service, Green Line extension from
Lechmere, and existing bus service, this area [Union Square] has the potential to become a
major transportation hub. The MBTA has specifically identified the parcels in the southeast
corner of Prospect Street and Somerville Avenue as a transportation center. The
transportation focus will allow for increased development opportunities as part of a transit-oriented, mixed use development project.... OHCD and the SRA envision that the Kiley
Barrel site could be developed in the future through a process similar to that of the Yard 21
site in Assembly Square."
The city is also considering, and seeking funding for, a new, $42 million Public Safety
Building for Union Square, which would involve the taking by eminent domain of Ricky's
Flowers, and the Fred Susan auto repair business on Somerville Avenue.
6) REPORT ON COST OF EXTENDED POLLING HOURS
On the day of the last municipal election, poll workers told me of lines of people waiting in
the early morning to vote, only to leave for work before the polls opened at 8:00 a.m.
Consequently, I sponsored a Board Order asking city officers to report to the Board the
feasibility of opening polling places at 7:00 a.m. for municipal elections, as is done for state
elections. When I conducted a readers' poll on the subject, sentiment was overwhelmingly in
favor of adding the extra hour, almost regardless of cost.
The good news is that our new election commissioner reported to the Committee on
Legislative Matters that the costs will be fairly low. About an additional $830 will be required
for the Elections Department budget; the bulk of the cost, approximately $700.00, will be for
the police detail officers and one captain for the extra morning hour. The cost comes down
to under $40.00 per polling place, so I've put through a Board Order requesting the change.
Thank you all for commenting on the question.
7) MORE NEWS FROM/ABOUT POEMS
A)
The 'News from Poems' in Hard Copy
A reasonably complete collection of the poetry presented at the "The News from Poems," a
reading devoted to our experience of September 11, is now available for browsing. The
compilation may be found at the desk at McIntyre and Moore Bookstore in Davis Square,
which so graciously hosted the reading, on Martin Luther King Day of this year. Thanks are
due to Delia Marshall, who made notes of and collected as many of the poems as she could,
and put them together as a book. Now that most of the Davis Square memorial site has been
cleared away, this resource could be an alternate focus for remembrance and meditation.
B) Saying the Unsayable: A Free Poetry Workshop About Sept. 11 and Beyond
Somerville poet Gary Duehr, who participated in "The News From Poems" reading, is
conducting a poetry workshop for all levels of writers at the Somerville Central Library on
Saturday, April 20, from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.. "Focus is on poetic expression of Sept. 11, and
other public traumas, but all poetry is welcome." Participants are encouraged to pre-register,
to bring 15 copies of a poem to share, and to "come prepared to write and join in a group
critique." For more information, or to register, call Josie Wrangham at the Library
Reference Desk, (617) 623-5000.
8) ONE-WAY PATTERN CHANGED AGAIN FOR BAY STATE AVENUE
As most of you probably know, the newly reconstituted Traffic Board held a public hearing
on Monday, March 18, at which it voted to uphold the January 15 decision of the Traffic and
Parking Commission returning the northernmost block of Bay State Avenue to one-way,
southbound. That decision was implemented on Wednesday morning, March 20, making the
entire process of change and reversal one of about six months' duration. The experience
sensitized many to the importance of traffic - its volume, and its speed - as a quality of life
issue all over Somerville.
I know of a number of individuals and neighborhood groups who hope to bring increased
attention and resources to this issue. They are interested in traffic-calming improvements (did
you read Patricia Wild's column in the Somerville Journal on Thursday, March 21?) and
other strategies for relief. I will continue to work on the issue, and will be doing some major
brainstorming, about which I will keep readers informed.
9) NEWSLETTER BACK ISSUES AVAILABLE ONLINE!
Thanks to the diligent efforts of Larry Stone and Geoffrey Forrest, to whom I owe copious
thanks, back issues of
SOMERVILLE AT LARGE are now available on my website.
I am working on a method of indexing individual articles by
topic, keyed into the revised "Issues" section of the website. Would any reader care to
volunteer some time on this project?
10) MUSICAL/LITERARY TREAT IN STORE FOR APRIL
On Saturday, April 6, there will be a performance, here in Somerville, of a truly beautiful
piece of musical theater. Miriam Raiken-Kolb, a gifted composer of songs, has created
musical settings for a number of Emily Dickinson's most vivid and compelling poems. These
are woven into an original one act play, "I Dwell in Possibility." Performed by Raiken-Kolb
and talented Somerville soprano Kelly Demers, the play explores the friendship between
Dickinson and Mabel Loomis Todd, who introduced Dickinson's poetry to the world.
The performance, which also features music by the duo Three of Cups, will be held at 7:30
p.m. at the Clarendon Hill Presbyterian Church, 155 Powderhouse Boulevard. No
reservations are necessary; the suggested donation of $10 benefits the Somerville Summer
Theater Project, an upcoming program for local children only partly funded by a grant from
the Somerville Arts Council. Call Rebecca (617) 625-6950 or Miriam (617) 776-6871 with
any questions.
11) SOMERVILLE BRAINTEASER QUIZ SECTION: WINNER, NEW QUIZ
As I suspected, the February quiz was too easy, just as January's had been too hard. Dozens
of readers responded correctly, many within hours of the newsletter going out. Others said
they wouldn't try to answer, because the prize didn't sound alluring enough. This attitude
hardly seems sporting!
Ralph Hergert was the alert reader who within minutes of newsletter distribution identified
the Somerville Museum as the present home of the staircase from the Barrell Mansion. He
will receive a small collection of genuine Somerville picture postcards, suitable for framing,
displaying in a postcard album or selling on e.bay, where I understand Somerville postcards
have become a very hot item.
Now, for this month's quiz. Since our newsletter has already touched on topics musical and
literary, our questions concern our city's semi-official anthem, "Somerville, My Somerville:"
a) Who wrote the words?
b) In what year?
c) To what familiar melody are the words set?
d) What other patriotic song(s) of the same era used the same tune? (this one is a Bonus
Question)
e) What is your nomination for a modern Somerville anthem, and why do you think it is an
appropriate one? (this last question will be judged on the creativity, aptness, and wit of the
answer)
Accurate and complete answers to as many as possible of the first four questions will
determine the winner of that portion. Question "e" might have a separate winner. Extra
points for nominating the song I would choose. Prize(s) to be determined in my sole
discretion. Have fun!
Copyright 2002 Denise Provost
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