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Gilman Square Plan Implementation

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Photo from July 2019 Gilman Square meeting.

The Gilman Square Station Area Plan was finalized in February of 2014. Since then, a lot has changed: the Green Line station design has evolved, we have received better information about the subsurface infrastructure that affects the intersection design, and the Somerville Zoning Overhaul has everyone thinking about zoning.

In addition, the Gilman Square Neighborhood Association (GSNA) formed in 2018. This group of residents and business owners meets regularly and hosts block parties, neighborly gatherings, and advocates for the neighborhood. In 2019, GSNA and the City signed an agreement to work collaboratively on the implementation of the neighborhood plan in Gilman Square. Since then, GSNA and the City have co-hosted community events together, discussed proposed developments in the area, and planned for future development projects like the Homans Building.

Now, GSNA and the City are working together to implement the neighborhood plan. We're strategizing around important sites like the Homans Building and working together to ensure we get broad participation in creating the future of Gilman Square.



Gilman Square community update in early 2023

A community update meeting was held on February 1st, 2023, to share updates from the past year related to Gilman Square and especially the Homans site (350 Medford Street).

The main updates were related to development of the Homans site. The City's Engineering Department confirmed that the potential installation of a stormwater tank at the Homans site would not preclude development, and that the City would find other ways to alleviate flooding if development of the site moved faster than the timeline to install a tank (which is reliant on other stormwater system improvements).

The City's Economic Development Division of the Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development (OSPCD) also informed the public that before the site can be developed, the City will need to complete a Disposition Plan to determine the City's priorities for disposing of City-owned parcels in different parts of the City, with the expectation that the Homans site will be a top priority. The City will then likely go through a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) process to identify potential development options for the site, and may then consider the use of an Urban Renewal Plan in Gilman Square with community input. This will all likely take at least two years. In the meantime, the City plans to work with the Gilman Square Civic Advisory Committee to activate the square in the short term, and plans to release an RFP in the coming months to facilitate this process. The City also reviewed mobility-related updates at this meeting related to the opening of the Green Line station in Gilman Square and a needed detour to the Community Path, amongst other topics.

Presentation slides from February 1st and a Video Recording are available.



Learning about Priorities for the Redevelopment of City-owned Properties in Gilman Square

A community meeting to kick off the conversation around priorities for redeveloping the City-owned properties in Gilman Square was held on March 14th, 2022. The presentation described the history of these properties and the vision for their future that has been in development since 2014. In this current phase, we want to hear what’s on your priority list for when these properties are redeveloped. Are there particular business types, community spaces, and housing opportunities that you would like to see considered here?

Presentation Slides from March 14th and Video Recording are Available

See what meeting attendees had to say by reviewing the Jamboards from the breakout sessions.

Want to share your ideas? Take the online survey! | Faça o inquérito | Haz la encuesta

Missed the meeting in March? Join the City of Somerville and the Gilman Square Civic Advisory Committee for a midday repeat of the workshop on Wednesday May 11th from 12:00 - 1:30 pm. https://voice.somervillema.gov/gilman-square-plan-implementation/widgets/17290/key_dates#18892

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On November 22nd, City staff provided an update on present and future projects in Gilman Square, presented the feasibility study for an accessible path from Marshall Street to the Medford Street Bridge and Community Path extension, discussed options for protected bicycle lanes on Medford Street and Pearl Street from the School Street to the Skilton Ave intersections, and gathered public feedback. Please refer to the recording and slides from the presentation. A survey was also conducted and the city's design team is now reviewing the feedback received. Thank you to all who participated!

Kreyòl Ayisyen: Pwojè sa se yon fason pou aplike plan ki genyen pou katye Gilman Square a. Pou entèpretasyon sou pwojè sa, tanpri kontakte 617-666-3311 oubyen voye on email nan: SomerViv@SomervilleMA.gov.

Português: Este projeto trata da implementação do Plano de Vizinhança da Gilman Square. Para tradução em português sobre este projeto, entre em contato com 617-666-3311 ou por e-mail SomerVivaPort@SomervilleMA.gov.

Español: Este proyecto se trata de implementar el Plan Vecinal de Gilman Square. Para obtener información sobre este proyecto, comuníquese con 617-666-3311 o por correo electrónico SomerVivaEspanol@SomervilleMA.gov.

The Gilman Square Station Area Plan was finalized in February of 2014. Since then, a lot has changed: the Green Line station design has evolved, we have received better information about the subsurface infrastructure that affects the intersection design, and the Somerville Zoning Overhaul has everyone thinking about zoning.

In addition, the Gilman Square Neighborhood Association (GSNA) formed in 2018. This group of residents and business owners meets regularly and hosts block parties, neighborly gatherings, and advocates for the neighborhood. In 2019, GSNA and the City signed an agreement to work collaboratively on the implementation of the neighborhood plan in Gilman Square. Since then, GSNA and the City have co-hosted community events together, discussed proposed developments in the area, and planned for future development projects like the Homans Building.

Now, GSNA and the City are working together to implement the neighborhood plan. We're strategizing around important sites like the Homans Building and working together to ensure we get broad participation in creating the future of Gilman Square.



Gilman Square community update in early 2023

A community update meeting was held on February 1st, 2023, to share updates from the past year related to Gilman Square and especially the Homans site (350 Medford Street).

The main updates were related to development of the Homans site. The City's Engineering Department confirmed that the potential installation of a stormwater tank at the Homans site would not preclude development, and that the City would find other ways to alleviate flooding if development of the site moved faster than the timeline to install a tank (which is reliant on other stormwater system improvements).

The City's Economic Development Division of the Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development (OSPCD) also informed the public that before the site can be developed, the City will need to complete a Disposition Plan to determine the City's priorities for disposing of City-owned parcels in different parts of the City, with the expectation that the Homans site will be a top priority. The City will then likely go through a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) process to identify potential development options for the site, and may then consider the use of an Urban Renewal Plan in Gilman Square with community input. This will all likely take at least two years. In the meantime, the City plans to work with the Gilman Square Civic Advisory Committee to activate the square in the short term, and plans to release an RFP in the coming months to facilitate this process. The City also reviewed mobility-related updates at this meeting related to the opening of the Green Line station in Gilman Square and a needed detour to the Community Path, amongst other topics.

Presentation slides from February 1st and a Video Recording are available.



Learning about Priorities for the Redevelopment of City-owned Properties in Gilman Square

A community meeting to kick off the conversation around priorities for redeveloping the City-owned properties in Gilman Square was held on March 14th, 2022. The presentation described the history of these properties and the vision for their future that has been in development since 2014. In this current phase, we want to hear what’s on your priority list for when these properties are redeveloped. Are there particular business types, community spaces, and housing opportunities that you would like to see considered here?

Presentation Slides from March 14th and Video Recording are Available

See what meeting attendees had to say by reviewing the Jamboards from the breakout sessions.

Want to share your ideas? Take the online survey! | Faça o inquérito | Haz la encuesta

Missed the meeting in March? Join the City of Somerville and the Gilman Square Civic Advisory Committee for a midday repeat of the workshop on Wednesday May 11th from 12:00 - 1:30 pm. https://voice.somervillema.gov/gilman-square-plan-implementation/widgets/17290/key_dates#18892

----

On November 22nd, City staff provided an update on present and future projects in Gilman Square, presented the feasibility study for an accessible path from Marshall Street to the Medford Street Bridge and Community Path extension, discussed options for protected bicycle lanes on Medford Street and Pearl Street from the School Street to the Skilton Ave intersections, and gathered public feedback. Please refer to the recording and slides from the presentation. A survey was also conducted and the city's design team is now reviewing the feedback received. Thank you to all who participated!

Kreyòl Ayisyen: Pwojè sa se yon fason pou aplike plan ki genyen pou katye Gilman Square a. Pou entèpretasyon sou pwojè sa, tanpri kontakte 617-666-3311 oubyen voye on email nan: SomerViv@SomervilleMA.gov.

Português: Este projeto trata da implementação do Plano de Vizinhança da Gilman Square. Para tradução em português sobre este projeto, entre em contato com 617-666-3311 ou por e-mail SomerVivaPort@SomervilleMA.gov.

Español: Este proyecto se trata de implementar el Plan Vecinal de Gilman Square. Para obtener información sobre este proyecto, comuníquese con 617-666-3311 o por correo electrónico SomerVivaEspanol@SomervilleMA.gov.

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  • Notes from the February 12 Streetscape and Intersection Design Meeting

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    Thank you to the approximately 55 people who joined us for the City and the Gilman Square Neighborhood Association’s co-hosted Community Meeting on February 12 at the Winter Hill Community School. We also would like to thank Councilors Clingan and Ewen-Campen for attending.
    Viola Augustin, a City staff member, explained that the City is currently working with a consultant to explore different designs for Gilman Square intersections and streetscape. This is an important next step in the implementation of the Gilman Square Neighborhood Plan because it will identify where public space can be located and affect the shape of parcels which could be used for redevelopment.
    Viola introduced the two concepts, and then participants broke into small groups to discuss each concept's merits and challenges.

    You can see the slides from the meeting here, and the concepts here.
    We are still gathering feedback about these two initial concepts; community members are welcome to submit their feedback online until February 23. The City will share the feedback on this site by the end of February.

    After February 23, the City's consultants will:
    • Conduct traffic analysis to determine how possible changes to the roadway will affect vehicular traffic.
    • Tweak the concepts based on feedback and the results of the traffic study.
    By June, the City will have a "25% design" (a concept that is well-researched and reflects community feedback but is not the full technical document set necessary to begin construction). At this time, we will have a public meeting to share this design. Now is the time to to weigh in! We are gathering feedback until February 23.

  • Update on the 7/15/2019 Gilman Square Community Meeting

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    Thank you to the approximately 70 people who joined us for the City and the Gilman Square Neighborhood Association’s co-hosted Community Meeting on July 15 at 6pm at the Winter Hill Community School. We also would like to thank Councilors Clingan, Ewen-Campen, Mbah, Rossetti, and White for attending.
    Ward 5 Councilor Ben Ewen-Campen introduced the event, and then we heard from several City of Somerville OSPCD staff members about a variety of topics:
    • Sue Thomas (Economic Development) discussed the neighborhood plan and explained the partnership between the City and the Gilman Square Neighborhood Association (GSNA).
    • Cortney Kirk (Public Space and Urban Forestry) discussed the Central Hill planning process, park accessibility, trees, and the streetscape research currently happening at the Gilman Square intersection.
    • Viola Augustin (Transportation and Infrastructure) shared updates about the Green Line Extension and community path.
    • Tom Galligani (Economic Development) shared information about development opportunities in the Gilman Square, and Sue Thomas discussed the processes these developments involve.
    The complete slides are available here, and the handout we provided is available here. After the presentation, staff answered questions from the audience about the GLX station, open space, trees, and other topics.
    GSNA, represented by Christine Carlino, then lead the feedback exercise session at the end of the meeting with the attendees. Different easel pads throughout the room displayed different values from SomerVision 2030. Participants wrote down what they'd like to see in the square under the different categories. You can review what people contributed here.

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Page last updated: 09 Feb 2023, 06:09 PM