Agenda Text
title
Renee Scott and Rob Buchanan submitting comments re: new parks in Union Sq.
body
Official Text
To the Honorable Board:
Green & Open Somerville and Union Square Neighbors call on city leaders and Union Square master developer, US2, to make good on commitments to design, develop, and build new parks in and around Union Square.
Under the new Union Square zoning, US2, Union Square’s master developer, must construct a “Neighborhood Park” that is at least half an acre. During the zoning review process, US2 promised the Union Square community that we would have the opportunity to evaluate several different locations for this park.
On September 18, US2 submitted its master development permit application after holding an “open house” presenting its plan. However, during the US2’s open house, only one location was shown to the public as a serious option for the park-one that has never been presented before. The location has serious drawbacks that need consideration. We left written comments and spoke to US2’s representatives and landscape architect about our concerns, however, we’ve learned after reviewing their permit application that their plans remain largely unchanged.
The success of this park will be determined by it being used. If the community is not part of the process to decide the location and design, there is a significant chance it will not succeed.
We call upon US2 to fully engage the community in good-faith and allow informed public discussion on the location for the park. We believe locating the park on the D7 block (site of the existing Citizens Bank and parking lot next to Properzi Manor) may better serve the Union Square community and is worth evaluating. We must wonder if US2 is shoving their plan down our throat because it makes their build-out easier to design and maximizes their profit. Somerville’s Planning Board should not approve US2’s permit application until the neighborhood has a chance to weigh in.
Secondly, we call upon the Mayor and the Board of Aldermen to develop a plan to acquire, design, and develop a park on Charlestown Street-consistent with recommendations of the Union Square Neighborhood Plan. The site is currently owned by the MBTA and is slated for temporary use as a storage yard during construction of the Green Line extension. Whether this means talking to US2, negotiating for a fair price from the MBTA, applying for grants, etc., it needs to start now. We cannot let this great idea remain a distant future possibility that moves further from our grasp.
Great parks come from great planning. We invite all interested residents and stakeholders to sign our online petition: <https://www.change.org/p/union-square-station-associates-new-parks-for-union-square>
Sincerely,
Renée Scott, Co-founder
On behalf of Green & Open Somerville
Rob Buchanan, Chairperson
On behalf of Union Square Neighbors