The latest developments concerning the Public Safety Building project were discussed at the latest meeting of the Building Project Committee.

By Luda Tang

On June 1, the Public Safety Building Project Committee meeting concerning the Public Safety Building project (PSB) was held, hosted by Committee Chair and Director of Capital Projects at the City of Somerville Melissa Woods.

According to SomerVoice, the Public Safety Building will be a new home to police, fire administration, and Engine 3. It aims to provide a modern space that can change and adapt to policing and fire administration day-to-day operations, achieve Somerville’s sustainability goals by being net zero ready, and designed to be welcoming to all Somerville residents.

Woods shared updates of the public safety building project. Capital Projects reached out to the Consensus Building Institute, a non-profit organization that is committed to solve socially, environmentally, and economically complex problems to ask for their help in guiding the process. Ona Ferguson, the Senior Manager at the Consensus Building Institute, came on board and was responsible for conducting twelve interviews of stakeholders for their opinions on the project.

Each interview chiefly focused on what the public safety building project should focus on.

The organized interview notes from the stakeholders can be divided into three parts: themes related to process, siting and design. The stakeholders brought up some suggestions for each part for consideration.

In terms of the project process, the notes included clarifying the goal and rationale of why the city is choosing to build a public safety building right now, engaging more residents, designing and executing the public meeting more carefully, and being clearer and more transparent about the decision making.

Stakeholders also think the building’s location should be suitable for the police and fire department, and the operations at 220 Washington Street should be relocated. It is also important to shed light on the legal requirements for using the sites.

It was also felt that the building’s design should take into account factors such as having flexible spaces for reimaging efforts, providing valuable services, protecting trees and outdoor greenspaces, and preventing negative impacts, like noises, traffic, among others.

In addition to the previous efforts made to public outreach, for instance, the May 25 meeting with 70 residents from Cobble Hill, Capital Projects plans to host an in-person listening session at East Somerville Community School on June 21. In the following week, it will host virtual listening sessions on either June 28 or 29. But these dates are tentative now. Check out the website for more updated information: https://voice.somervillema.gov/90washington_redevelopment.