MAYOR JOE CURTATONE

ALDERMAN MARYANN HEUSTON

Photo by bradlee9119

WARD 2 QUALITY OF

LIFE CALLS

020406080

100120140160

Jan. 1 – April 20

0102030405060708090

100

March 20 – April 20

RODENTS

02468

101214161820

Ward 2 311 Rodent Calls

CITY OPEN SPACE PROGRAM UPDATES

SUMMER OPERATIONS IN CITY PARKS

http://archive.somervillema.gov/waterpark

https://www.somervillebydesign.com/planning/public-space-planning/public-space-public-life/

https://www.somervillebydesign.com/planning/public-space-planning/green-spaces-community-places/

CITY OPEN SPACE PLANS & DATA

http://archive.somervillema.gov/sites/default/files/documents/2016%20Fields%20Master%20Planning%

20Staff%20Report%20Update_June.pdf

LINCOLN PARK: CONSTRUCTION PROGRESS

LINCOLN PARK: CONSTRUCTION PROGRESS

Staff Landscape Architect

Staff Certified Arborist

CITY URBAN FORESTRY PROGRAM IS GROWING

IT’S ALL HAPPENING IN UNION SQUARE

INFRASTRUCTURE IN UNION

SQUARE

SEWER & DRAIN CHALLENGES IN

UNION SQUARE

502

1305

694

915

18 153

64

1860 to1880

1880 to1900

1900 to1920

1920 to1940

1940 to1960

1960 to1980

1980 topresent

Years pipes were constructed

• Over half

constructed

before 1900,

virtually all by

1940

• Almost entirely a

combined

system –

sanitary and

stormwater

flows combined

• Driven by

gravity, not

pumps

Elevation

100 to 150 feet

65 to 100 feet

40 to 65 feet

20 to 40 feet

-11 to 20 feet

SEWER & DRAIN CHALLENGES IN

UNION SQUARE

• City’s pipe

network

moves 60%

of flow

through

Union

Square

• Connects to

140 year old

MWRA pipe

shared with

neighboring

cities

• Pipes

overloaded

during

intense rain

19

33

98

76

10-Year Flood Volume (mgd)

0.53 1.02

2.67

1.82

Sanitary Flow (mgd)

3 PROJECT OVERVIEW

Nunziato Field

Stormwater Tank

MBTA / GLX Drainage

Connection

USQ / Somerville Ave

Infrastructure

SOMERVILLE AVE.

INFRASTRUCTURE

New 16" Water Main

Line Existing 39" by 26"

Brick Sanitary Sewer

New 14' by

6' Stormwater Box

Culvert

Line Existing 72" Brick

Combined Sewer

New

Communications

Duct Bank

Existing

Communications,

Electric, and Gas

New 12" Water Main

Line Existing 12" Clay

Sanitary Sewer

SOMERVILLE AVE.

CONSTRUCTION OVERVIEW Estimated construction timeframe:

• Three full construction seasons (three years if the project starts in the

spring)

• 100% design completed, Board of Aldermen vote anticipated

somervillema.gov/unionsquareinfrastructure

DEVELOPMENT IN UNION

SQUARE

DEVELOPMENT CAN HELP FILL

IN THE FUNDING GAPS

$10,000,000

$15,000,000

$20,000,000

$25,000,000

$30,000,000

$35,000,000

$40,000,000

$45,000,000

$50,000,000

$55,000,000

$60,000,000

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

STATE AID VS. COMMERCIAL TAX YIELDS • Growth in the

commercial tax

base mitigates

increases to

residential taxes as

state aid

decreased.

• Commercial growth

also brings jobs.

There were just

over 14% more jobs

in Somerville in

2015 than in 2001.

• Commercial growth

brings people into

the City who

patronize local

businesses. STATE AID COMMERCIAL TAX

IT’S GETTING HARDER TO

ACHIEVE OUR GOALS ALONE

2,000

2,200

2,400

2,600

2,800

3,000

3,200

3,400

3,600

3,800

Affordable housing supply • Affordable

housing stock

increased

~28%

• Federal block

grant funding

decreased by

nearly 40%

• Home sale

price per

square foot

nearly doubled

HOW DEVELOPMENT CAN HELP

ASSEMBLY SQUARE CONTRIBUTIONS

• Infrastructure, open space, and environmental

remediation

• Includes: Orange Line station, Baxter State Park, Ten Hills

sewer replacement, DCR bike path

• Payments to the City

• Includes: Permit fees, contribution to summer jobs program,

public art funding, funding neighborhood improvements

• Other public benefits

• Includes: River Fest, summer movie nights, job fairs, jobs

database

WHAT COULD COME FROM

UNION SQUARE DEVELOPMENT

~ $112 million

• $55.6 million in funding and in-kind costs for affordable housing creation

• $20.5 million in building permit fees and future phase contributions

• $13 million for environmental sustainability measures

• $5.5 million will support the Green Line Extension

• $7.7 million for infrastructure work

• $3.7 million in a community benefits agreement

• $5 million for open space creation

• $1.7 million for job training programs

$445 million

• Estimated real estate taxes over 30 years

584

Goals, Policies, & Actions

182 (or 31%)

Directly Related to the Zoning Ordinance

A regulatory tool to ensure the city

develops in an anticipated way.

A regulatory tool to ensure the city

develops in an anticipated way.

Who decides how the city develops?

A regulatory tool to ensure the city

develops in an anticipated way

Who decides how the city develops?

YOU!

“Can I put an addition or

dormer on my house?”

“Can a corner

store open in my

neighborhood?”

“How can we build a

sustainable

Somerville?”

“How can we create

more affordable

housing?”

“Can I finish my

basement?”

“Can I operate a home

business?”

“How can we get

more open space?”

“Is an apartment

building allowed on my

street?”

“How can we get

neighborhood

services within

walking distances?”

Can chain stores

open in our Squares?

Can I live and work in

the same city?

Original

Zoning

Overhaul

Proposed

1,000+

Comments

Submitted

Board of

Aldermen

requests 6

studies

Studies

Undertaken

Topic Based

Public

Meetings

Rewrite to

reflect

feedback

somervillezoning.com

May – Discussion Draft

@SomervilleNeighborhoodUpdates

@SomerUpdates

May – Public Review Draft Released

Date Day of Week Location

June 26 Monday Public Safety Building

July 6 Thursday Winter Hill Community School

July 19 Wednesday Cross Street Senior Center

July 29 Saturday High School Library

August 17 Thursday Lowell Street VNA

August 22 Tuesday UCC (89 College)

August 31 Thursday Capen Court VNA

Come see us at an Open House!

Weekday Sessions 2 – 8 pm Weekend Session 9 am - 2 pm

UNION SQUARE ZONING

BASED ON SOMERVISION AND

NEIGHBOHOOD PLAN

Implements USQ Neighborhood Plan

Attracts private development

• 60% commercial jobs, linkage

• 40% residential inclusionary

Creates 12+ new acres of highest-quality public open space

Reduces traffic and parking demand, shifting from cars to walking, biking, and transit

ResiStat Ward 2: Police

May 30, 2017

Chief David Fallon

Residential Burglary: Prevention

Ensure outside doors lock, motion

lights work

Double-secure windows (lock + safety

tabs, wooden dowel or wood screws)

Cut back hedges for visibility from street

Keep climbable objects away from windows

Register electronics; consider tracking software

Home security systems an affordable option

Bike Theft: Prevention

Store out of view (backyard, indoors)

Always lock, even when stored out of view

Use a registration program

Trends

Citywide, crime is down 16% vs. 2016

Close to 30 year citywide low

In Ward 2, crimes frequently targeting

residents (house & car breaks, bike &

package thefts, etc.) are down 58% vs. 2016

Ward 2: Select Crime (to 5/15)

Active Areas, Ward 2 2017 YTD

(C)ar Breaks (3 of 6 in Ward)

2016 Spring/Summer

(C)ar Breaks, (B)ike Thefts

C

C

B

C

B

Citywide Public Safety Issues

Traffic Safety Speed limit reduced citywide

Targeted Enforcement

Distracted driving (April)

Drive Sober (May)

Pedestrian safety (crosswalks)

Bicycle safety & compliance

Narcotics Overdoses Statewide, Fatal ODs appear to

be higher in Spring & Fall

Important to contact 911

quickly, use Narcan if available

COHR staff worked with 21

clients & families in 2016

Recent Events

How to Save a Life 3/1

Take Back Day 4/29

Bike & Pedestrian-involved Crashes Citywide, ~60 bike- & 40 pedestrian-involved crashes/year

Most crashes occur during rush hours (7-9 AM, 3-8 PM)

Bike hot spots are in red, pedestrian in blue

Substance Misuse & Mental Health Supports

Contact Service Contact Info.

MA Substance Use Hotline Treatment program info 800-327-5050

Cambridge Health Alliance Walk-ins Tue. 11:30; MA Health accepted 617-591-6051

Caspar First Step Outreach Assist in accessing detox. 617-661-0600

Riverside Community Care Outpatient; MA Health accepted 617-623-3278

North Charles Maintenance therapy; MA Health only 617-661-5700

Column Health Counseling, medication assisted treatment 339-368-7696

Learn 2 Cope Family support; Mon. 7 PM 1575 Cambridge St, CAM

Family Anonymous Family support; Tue. 7 PM 121 Washington St, MEF

Contact Service Contact Info.

Cambridge Health Alliance Inpatient & outpatient services Adults: 617-591-6033

Juveniles: 617-665-3458

BEST Team Psychiatric emergency services; MA Health 800-981-4357

Riverside – Child Guidance Center Juvenile/family services 617-354-2275

Neighborhood Counseling &

Community Services Counseling, skill & strength-based strategies 781-600-6074

Substance Misuse

Mental Health

Certified Police Department (5/3)

Now a State-certified Police Department Demonstrates commitment to best practices in policing

Drafted policies to meet 159 standards

Systematic assessment of Department practices in November 2016

Department will now pursue Accreditation Drafting policies to meet 180 additional standards

Community Engagement

Completed/Ongoing Initiatives

Policies & Procedures online

Thanks/Complaints form online

STEPS

2016-17: 10 officers,

500 school visits as of 4/30

2017-18: 5 new officers (15 total)

3rd Teen Empowerment-SPD

Basketball Game

Upcoming Initiatives

700 planned Park, Walk & Talk

deployments

10 Teen Empowerment-SPD

Walking Dialogues

TRAFFIC CALMING

TRAFFIC CALMING: NEIGHBORHOOD STREETS

Stone Avenue, Fall 2016 Summer Street, Fall 2016

0 10 20 30 40

Kingston St

Walnut Rd

Bigelow St

Columbus Ave

Fairfax St

Ibbetson St

Newbury St

Kidder Ave

Stone Ave

Warren Ave

Prospect Hill Pkwy

Munroe St

Boston St

Madison St

Sartwell Ave

Avon St

Hamlet St

Wigglesworth St

Morrison Ave

Rogers Ave

Putnam St

Clarendon Ave

Highland Rd

Florence St

Sycamore St

Walnut St

Powder House Blvd

Somerville Ave

Cameron Ave

85% OF MEASURED VEHICLES TOPPED OUT AT: Ward 2 Streets Adjacent Streets Other

Miles Per Hour, Fall 2016

NEIGHBORWAYS: MURAL AS TRAFFIC CALMING

http://www.somervillestreets.com/ Willoughby Street, Summer 2015

BICYCLING FOR ALL AGES & ALL ABILITIES

http://www.somervillebikes.org/uploads/1/7/6/6/17660777/2016_sbac_annual_report.pdf

BICYCLING FOR ALL AGES & ALL ABILITIES

https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2017/05/22/cyclists-respond-walsh-comments-with-tactical-urbanism-cutouts/V1T6kI6FzSFywpAIBaP7AI/story.html

FOCUS ON SAFETY: WEBSTER AVENUE

35 survey locations around Somerville

0%

100%

200%

300%

400%

500%

600%

2008 2012 2016

People on Foot People on Bikes Motor Vehicles

10

55

70

795

36

183

105

865 870

Mobility Trends: Webster @ Newton Morning Commute

INMAN SQUARE: INTERSECTION REDESIGN

INMAN SQUARE: TRAFFIC ANALYSIS

UNION SQUARE: 2-WAY TRAFFIC JULY 2017

https://www.somervillebydesign.com/planning/transportation/union-square/