Ward Walks: Somerville Avenue prepares for unveiling

On March 1, 2010, in Uncategorized, by The News Staff

Somerville Avenue.

While
the construction crews are largely gone from Somerville Avenue, the
underlying traffic issues in Union Square remain. ~Photos by Tom Nash

By Tom Nash

[Editor's
Note: With "Ward Walks" we're hoping to take aldermen out of the City
Hall chambers and into the neighborhoods they represent. We started by
asking Ward 2 Alderman Maryann Heuston, who is known for taking
residents on walks around her ward, to explain the progress of the
Somerville Avenue reconstruction project.]

Three years ago,
Alderman Maryann Heuston called Somerville "a city in darkness" as
residents struggled without street lighting after construction crews
tearing up Somerville Avenue called it a day. With the $20.7 million
revitalization project nearing completion, she's hoping the city can
move forward with plans to redefine Union Square.

The project,
which began in 2007, involved a complete infrastructure update of
Somerville Avenue – including everything from late 19th century sewer
and water systems being replaced to new lighting, sidewalks and bike
lanes. Until about two years in, however, the project was widely viewed
as a traffic nightmare with few tangible signs of progress until the
project switched into its above-ground phase last year.

While an
unveiling date remains to be set, Heuston said the city is confident
that the construction would be done in time for spring. Walking down
Somerville Avenue to Union Square, Heuston said with the project in its
final stages she would like to focus on how to revitalize the
neighborhood itself.

Much of the planning is already done.
Zoning changes approved last April will create three new areas: a
commercial district that would span Washington Street and Somerville
Avenue, a transit district around the proposed Union Square T stop and
an arts overlay district.

The goal for Union Square, Heuston said, is to make use of the space that had once been there.

"There
used to be be stores on top of all these buildings," Heuston said of
the single-story storefronts, pointing out Barristers Hall as the
average height. "Then, they couldn't fill them and they chopped them
off. They wanted (Union Square) to look like a suburban strip mall, and
that's what happened."

Aside from the unused commercial
potential, Heuston added many of the commercial uses don't fit in with
the city's goal for the neighborhood.

"That's why I'm going to
be pushing for some rezoning past where the Union Square rezoning
went," she explained. "Here's an opportunity to take the last leg of
the Somerville Avenue and up-zone it a little bit. People who own
property there might be more motivated to not keep those uses that are
either dirty or garages or used car lots."

"They close down (at
night) and then it's dark and there's no reason to be down there unless
you're going to a bar," she added. "We need to have a better mix."

While
the reconstruction project is projected to be finished nine months
ahead of schedule, Heuston said she won't consider it finished until
she takes Mayor Joe Curtatone on a walking tour to make sure the
pedestrian accessibility goals are met.

"The mayor and I will
walk around together at two times — day and night," Heuston said.
"We'll be the final call on when this is finished."

When the
last pedestrian crosswalk is painted, Heuston said she will be ready to
take on what should be done with the new corridor. "With this phase of
the redevelopment over, it's time to take it to the next level."