Union Square Development Update

Somerville, MA, Feb. 24, 2015 – Despite the freezing temperatures and mountains of snow, since early January residents have been trudging to meetings about the future of Union Square in the old Post Office.

The gatherings are hosted by City officials and by representatives of US2 (Union Square Station Associates), the master developer for the 12 acres on seven blocks of property in and around the square that are slated to be redeveloped.

Every Wednesday in February, US2 representatives explained the details of “development economics, transportation and traffic, brownfields and infrastructure” and other elements involved in the redevelopment of the area, according to Brad Lawson of the Mayor’s Office of Community Development.

“This is the second phase in a three-phase, winter and spring set of activities and it’s going to really allow everybody to have access to the same information,” Lawson told Somerville Neighborhood News (SNN) during a recent Wednesday night meeting.

Every Wednesday, the cavernous hall fills to hear from US2 officials.

“We’re going to engage with you, we’re going to listen, we’re going to synthesize and create,” US2 president Greg Karczewski promised at the February 11 meeting.

At each meeting, people have been asked to weigh in on images, plans and ideas presented by the firm. A meeting on January 31st brought together many residents who are more comfortable in a language other than English.

New residents Justin Schreiber and Heshi Piyathilake attended the Feb. 18 meeting, which was focused on transportation-related issues.

“We’ve been living here for about six months and I’m a transportation planner for the City of Cambridge, so I’m just generally interested in what’s going on with Union Square,” Schreiber told SNN.

“I thought it would be interesting just to see how the neighborhood I live in is going to change,” Piyathilake added.

Columnist and activist Bill Shelton has attended most of the sessions.

“I think the intent [of the meetings] is righteous,” Shelton told SNN. “But I think that if they were better planned, people would have more opportunity to fully respond.”

Shelton mentioned a meeting where groups looked at piles of photos with different design options and noted that there was just not enough time to really ponder all of them.

The meetings will culminate with a three-day design “charrette” On March 9, 10 and 11.

“I think we all have something to contribute to this planning process,” Lawson said told SNN.

“From 9 am to 9 pm, this public studio will be open for what we call a ‘design charrette’ – very interactive, very fun – where we draw 100 different ideas about public space, development opportunities, housing preservation, local business support, that will all inform our strategic plan and guide change in Union Square,” he added.

For more information, go to: http://www.somervillebydesign.com/category/union-square/