ArtsUnion a cultural economic development initiative for Union Square, Somerville.

ArtsUniona cultural economic development

initiative for Union Square, Somerville

Union Square, Somerville

Partners

Artisan’s Asylum

ArtsUnion Strategy

Long TermInfrastructure

Short TermImmediate

ProgrammingPedestrian ActivityBranding

ZoningProperties Industry Development

Evaluation

Festivals

Call to Producers Model

Markets

Street Furniture

Tours

Zoning

Zoning• City-wide, support creation of live/work and

work only artist studios- Design guidelines, density bonuses, parking relief

• Support arts-related used in Union Sq through creation of arts overlay district– Parking relief, revised table of uses

• Include arts-related uses in new transit oriented development parcels (TODs)– requires 5% of gross square footage for arts

related uses

Design IndustrySize of the Somerville Design Industry, 2001-2007

350

400

450

500

550

600

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

Year

Num

ber

of E

mpl

oyee

s

35

40

45

50

55

60

Num

ber

of E

stab

lishm

ents

Number of Employees

Number of Establishments

Design Annex

Surprises

Shift of 12,000+ sq feet

Businesses Embracing Public Space

Artisan’s Asylum

Fringe Union

Next Steps