These are just some of the municipal meetings and civic events for the coming week. More are on the City of Somerville website.
Update for housing development
Winter Hill Urban Renewal Plan Civic Advisory Committee, 5:30 to 7 p.m. Thursday. An update to a development at 299 Broadway, Winter Hill, a 288-unit housing complex to include almost 30,000 square feet of retail and park space. The long-awaited project aims to reuse land once used by a Star Market grocery store. Watchable via Zoom videoconferencing.
Fitness center in Davis square
Planning Board, 6 p.m. Thursday. A special permit is asked to open a Republic Fitness gym near Davis Square at 393 Highland Ave. The company seeks to bypass zoning laws that restrict businesses to less than 10,000 square feet on a single floor. The street-level site sold for almost $5 million in 2011 and was formerly a Rite Aid, but has been empty since early 2020. There’s a Republic Fitness in Boston and the same owners run the Healthworks women’s gym in Cambridge’s Porter Square. Watchable via Zoom videoconferencing.
Progress on waterfront park
Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development, 6 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday. Learn about the next stage in state and city efforts to revitalize Blessing of the Bay Park, one of Somerville’s only waterfront green spaces. Officials will present ideas for the space’s main greenway, to run parallel with Shore Drive and link nearby bike trails. Watchable via Zoom videoconferencing.
Plans to replace dilapidated schools
School Construction Advisory Group, 6 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday. A recently formed coalition of parents, administrators, city councilors and financial experts will convene for the first time in a step toward addressing the failing infrastructure of two Somerville public schools. The group – following the state authority’s decision to grant money to only one of the two schools – will consider the possibility of building just a single school to serve a combined group of more than 600 schoolchildren in a meeting at Somerville High School, 81 Highland Ave., Central Hill. A wider process to collect public opinion will be launched this month, the city said.
Reconstruction of Pearl Street
Pedestrian & Transit Advisory Committee, 6 to 7 p.m. Wednesday. A first discussion on the redesign of Pearl Street, a predominantly residential area stretching from Gilman Square to roughly McGrath Highway. Overseen by a committee, initial project descriptions highlight potential for dedicated bike lanes and curb expansions for pedestrian safety, though the committee says it will gather extensive feedback before the projected construction date in 2026. Watchable via Zoom videoconferencing.
Tackling Davis Square homelessness
Health and Human Services, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday. Mayor Katjana Ballantyne and newly appointed police chief Shumeane Benford will address Davis Square’s ongoing homelessness crisis at a meeting for the community and business owners. The City Council asked the mayor 13 months ago to call a state of emergency – a request she has not acted on. The meeting will be held at Somerville Community Baptist Church, 31 College Ave., near Davis Square.
A stronger
Please consider making a financial contribution to maintain, expand and improve Cambridge Day.
We are now a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and all donations are tax deductible.
Please consider a recurring contribution.