Porter Square Visioning 5 4 09

A Vision for Porter SquareA Vision for Porter SquareqqSomerville Avenue, Beacon Street, and

Elm Street at Wilson Square

Mayor’s Office of Strategic PlanningMayor’s Office of Strategic PlanningMayor s Office of Strategic Planning Mayor s Office of Strategic Planning and Community Developmentand Community Development

May 4 2009May 4 2009May 4, 2009May 4, 2009

Why Visioning?Why Visioning?Why Visioning?Why Visioning?

• Porter Sq / Somerville Ave /Beacon St arePorter Sq./ Somerville Ave./Beacon St. are important commercial corridors

• Transit Oriented Development• Transit Oriented Development • Potential for redevelopment

1,000 Words1,000 Words1,000 Words1,000 Words

Historical ContextHistorical ContextHistorical ContextHistorical Context

• ‘Beyond the Neck’Beyond the Neck• Transportation Corridor

C t d N T ith Ch l t• Connected New Town with Charlestown and Boston

• Milk Row

Study AreaStudy AreaStudy AreaStudy Area

• Porter Square• Somerville AveSomerville Ave.• Beacon St.• White Street• White Street• Wilson Square

Existing ConditionsExisting ConditionsExisting ConditionsExisting Conditions

Intersection at Beacon St. and Somerville Ave.

Railroads facing Somerville Ave.

Existing ConditionsExisting ConditionsExisting ConditionsExisting Conditions

Car Wash facing Somerville Ave Residential property abutting LesleyCar Wash facing Somerville Ave. Residential property abutting Lesley University at City Line.

Existing ConditionsExisting ConditionsExisting ConditionsExisting Conditions

White Street Elm Street Parking LotWhite Street Elm Street Parking Lot.

Existing ConditionsExisting ConditionsExisting ConditionsExisting Conditions

Wilson Square Strip Mall Elm Street - Wilson Square

Existing ConditionsExisting ConditionsExisting ConditionsExisting Conditions

Beacon Street Commercial Beacon Street Vacant Gas StationVacant Gas Station

Transit AccessTransit AccessTransit AccessTransit Access

Recent Changes and ChallengesRecent Changes and ChallengesRecent Changes and ChallengesRecent Changes and Challenges

• Lesley Overlay District rezoning proposalLesley Overlay District rezoning proposal• Somerville Ave. reconstruction project

T ffi d P ki i i k• Traffic and Parking issues in key intersections (mainly Beacon St.)

• 369 Beacon St. site

Lesley University OverlayLesley University OverlayLesley University OverlayLesley University Overlay

Regional BusinessRegional BusinessRegional BusinessRegional Business

• Shaw’s at Porter Sq.Shaw s at Porter Sq.• Lesley University

• Local business• Strip Mall (Starbucks• Strip Mall (Starbucks,

Dunkin Donuts, Laundry) au d y)

• Car Wash

StrengthsStrengthsStrengthsStrengths

• Great access to public transportationGreat access to public transportation• Somerville Avenue improvements

C i l id• Commercial corridor• Education institutions (Access to Harvard

and Lesley University)• What else?

Impediments to DevelopmentImpediments to DevelopmentImpediments to DevelopmentImpediments to Development

• MBTA rails parallel to Somerville AveMBTA rails parallel to Somerville Ave divide the community

• No key anchors in Somerville• No key anchors in Somerville• Shallow parcels limit development• Little off-street parking on Somerville Ave• Traffic issues and concerns in key y

intersections• What else?What else?

OpportunitiesOpportunitiesOpportunitiesOpportunities

• Lesley / Porter overlay district – campusLesley / Porter overlay district campus extension

• Somerville Ave reconstruction project• Somerville Ave reconstruction project• Beacon Street reconstruction project • TOD development opportunities• Proposed developments on key sitesp p y• What else?

Next stepsNext stepsNext stepsNext steps

• Next Meeting: Monday May 11Next Meeting: Monday, May 11– Visual Survey

Monday May 19• Monday, May 19– Drafting A Vision

• Tuesday, May 26– Final Review

Special Thanks toSpecial Thanks toSpecial Thanks toSpecial Thanks to

• Mayor Joe CurtatoneMayor Joe Curtatone• Alderman Maryann Heuston

Ald S O’D• Alderman Sean O’Donovan • Madeline Masters, Director of Planning• Chris Diiorio, Planning Dept. • David Guzman Economic DevelopmentDavid Guzman, Economic Development

Dept.

Contact InformationContact InformationContact InformationContact InformationCity of Somerville

Mayor’s Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development

E i D l t Di i iEconomic Development Division

Rob MayDirector of Economic Development

617 625 6600 x2524617-625-6600 x2524rmay@somervillema.gov