These are just some of the municipal meetings and civic events for the coming week. More are on the City of Somerville website.
Response to Cobble Hill appeal
Somerville Redevelopment Authority, 11 a.m. to noon Friday. The authority convenes behind closed doors to hear from the city’s legal department on an appeals court finding – that the city underpaid property owners during a land taking by nearly $30 million. The authority paid $8.7 million for an unused 4-acre property that was once the Cobble Hill Plaza mall at 90 Washington St., but a lawyer for Cobble Hill Center LLC argued that the property’s true value was higher based on theoretical lab development. The court ruled that Somerville must pay the difference. Before the closed session, the meeting is watchable via Zoom videoconferencing.
Somernova expansion process
Office of Strategic Planning & Community Development, 9 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. and 6 to 7 p.m. Monday. Somerville is updating zoning with resident feedback to address the potential expansion of Somernova, a 7.4-acre campus hosting tech startups and artists. The new plan would create a “research and development district” in balance with protections for the area’s arts economy. Ten meetings to create a path forward for the project and a culminating presentation are mainly upstairs at 1 Bow Market Way, Union Square, including these two. (Somernova will host others.) The next meetings are Nov. 12.
Last day to submit ballots
Elections, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday. Vote in the 2024 election for president, statewide ballot questions and more before polls close. Find the nearest Somerville polling place here.
Asian restaurant to expand
Zoning Board of Appeals, 6 p.m. Wednesday. An Asian restaurant chain looks to open at 22 Highland Ave., Prospect Hill. Kenneth and Christine Chan operate Ginger Exchange Express in Watertown and Arlington; this third location would fill a space left empty by Highland Pizza, which closed after the Covid pandemic. Watchable via videoconferencing.
Veteran park fix is complete
Office of Strategic Planning & Community Development, 9 to 10 a.m. Nov. 7. Built in 2005, Henry Hansen Park is set to reopen after undergoing a seven-year redevelopment process. The small corner park is named after World War II veteran Hank Hansen, a Magoun Square resident who was killed a week after helping raise the U.S. flag on Iwo Jima’s Mount Suribachi. City officials invite residents to join in cutting the ribbon at 70 Partridge Ave.
Housing over Lyndell’s; lab plan
Planning Board, 6 p.m. Nov. 7. The board hears developers hoping to continue work on a nine-story lab building next to McGrath Highway approved two years ago and from DiCamillo Associates on plans to build 30 apartments, including six affordable units, atop Lyndell’s Bakery, an iconic establishment at 720 Broadway, Ball Square. Watchable via videoconferencing.
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