The city’s intentions for the immediate future of The Armory was discussed at a recent meeting of the Housing and Community Development Committee.

By Jim Clark

The Somerville City Council Housing and Community Development Committee held a meeting on Wednesday, October 19.

Prior to this meeting, 55 voters submitted a petition calling for a public hearing regarding the Arts at the Armory building. During the public hearing portion of the meeting, three speakers were invited to address the Committee Jess White spoke and clarified that the actual name of the building is The Armory.

Parama Chatopadhyay talked about the treatment of Armory tenants by the city. She stated that there has been a pattern of intimidation and hopes that tenants are notified of future meetings regarding the future of the building. She also mentioned that some of the tenants are worried about an exhibit at the Armory that deals with eviction and she hopes that sub patterns of intimidation cease and that there is a fair process going forward. Chatopadhyay closed by saying that she just wants open discussions and clarity.

Jason Berube commented that the city has not been forthcoming about its plans and he stated, for the record, that it is in poor taste to have an exhibit about eviction on display in a building where some tenants may be facing eviction. He noted that the arts are already in the building and that what the city is doing seems to be a strange way to erase the work of many of the organizations there. Berube would like the facility to remain, in part, as a venue for unknown artists.

There being no other speakers, Committee Chair, Councilor At-Large Kristen Strezo, closed the public hearing and the regular meeting of the Committee commenced. Councilor At-Large Willie Burnley Jr., Councilor At-Large Charlotte Kelly, Ward 7 Councilor Judy Pineda Neufeld and Ward 5 Councilor Beatriz  Gomez Mouakad put forward an order that the Director of Economic Development update the City Council on the efforts to hire a consultant regarding the Armory.

Director Galligani reminded the Committee that the city purchased the building one and a half years ago and said that it has taken time to get things going and that now the city is in the middle of developing a process to determine the future of the building.

The planning schedule will continue to mid-2023 and focus groups are beginning to be held. A plan is expected to be introduced during the first quarter of 2023 and will, hopefully, be approved by spring.

Councilor Strezo and Councilor Gomez Mouakad then put forward an order that the Director of Economic Development discuss the city’s maintenance plan for tenants and occupants of the Arts at the Armory.

Director Galligani explained that since the building was taken by eminent domain, the transition of ownership process has been unfriendly, e.g., the city did not have keys to the building and had no knowledge of the building’s operation. City staff were not prepared, at that time, to take control of the building.

Since then, the DPW has added staff and one of those new employees brought with him extensive knowledge in building operation and maintenance. Director Galligani told the Committee members that the DPW is fully engaged and committed to the building and stands ready to respond to its needs.

Additionally, the Infrastructure and Asset Management Department has been included to work on the long-range plan. Tenants were informed that a strategic master plan would be developed that would keep the building as a space for the arts. Therefore, those tenants who were not in the arts were told that they might not be included in the building’s future plans. When the city took control of the building there were ten tenants. Since then, two have moved out and of the remaining eight tenants, most are involved in the arts.

City staff has had regular conversations with the remaining tenants to keep them informed of what is going on and explain the relocation process, as well as informing them of their rights. Leases have been extended to this December and might be extended until June of 2023 or later. By law, the city would have to offer relocation assistance and a relocation consultant has been hired by the city to develop a plan and prepare an estimated cost of the relocations.

No new tenants are being brought in at this time but the vacant spaces are being activated to be used by artists.