By Joseph A. Curtatone

(The opinions and views expressed in the commentaries of The Somerville News belong solely to the authors of those commentaries and do not reflect the views or opinions of The Somerville News, its staff or publishers.)

In last week’s announcement of Somerville’s Union Square Green Line station agreement with MassDOT and the MBTA, Mimi Graney, the energetic and effective executive director of Union Square Main Streets, referred to the Square as “Somerville’s first downtown.” That’s both historically true and a prediction of good things to come.

For much of the19th Century, Union Square was the commercial and social center of Somerville. Over the years, however – and especially in the decades following World War II – Union Square’s role was matched, and in some cases surpassed, by other squares across the city. Still, even as Davis Square has continued to thrive on its Red Line connection, and even as Assembly Square comes roaring back as our city’s newest neighborhood, Union Square has continued to hold its own. With a well-earned reputation as a trend-setting dining destination; with a busy, all-day cafe culture; with a popular farmers’ market; with outdoor events like “What the Fluff” and the weekly “Swirl and Slice” artisanal wine and cheese fest, Union Square has maintained visibility, bustle and an attractive image.

But with two new announcements about major public investments in its immediate future, Union Square’s recent renaissance is about to accelerate to warp speed. The first of these was the announcement of the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) that it had approved the listing of Somerville for state financial support based on our proposal to build a new Central Library in Union Square, and our city eligibility to receive an almost unheard-of grant of $18.1 million. (That’s $10 million more than the next highest award on the list.)  The grant isn’t guaranteed, of course, the city has to come up another $27 million in construction money, and the state must agree to include the grant in its five year capital pan, but it’s a big boost to the idea of bringing a major civic cultural center into Union Square, where it will be more easily accessible to patrons and better positioned to assist the local economy by generating more foot and bike traffic through the Square.

And speaking of access and foot traffic, there was even bigger and better news for Union Square when we were able to announce last week that we’d signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with MassDOT and the MBTA on land acquisition and construction for what will be, in the words of the agreement, “an operational transit station by the late 2016-early 2017.”  Under the terms of the deal, the city (with the Somerville Redevelopment Authority likely to act as agent,) will purchase the land for the station and adjacent development parcels. Then, for a symbolic payment of one dollar to make the contract binding, the MBTA will be given a temporary easement for a pickup/drop-off area and construction staging areas. The T will also receive a permanent easement for the station building, which will be sited near the intersection of Prospect Street and Webster Avenue.

This agreement keeps the Green Line on its current timetable and gives the city the ability to oversee development of the scrap metal and storage areas between the heart of Union Square and the new Green Line stop. The impacts on both the transportation options and the economic development potential for Union Square make this deal a massive home run for areas residents and businesses. And keeping the Green Line Extension moving forward has important benefits for the entire city.

As important as these milestones will be for the future of Union Square, it’s also worth noting that there are plenty of other developments that are helping the Square maintain forward momentum. One of Somerville’s first three Hubway bike-sharing kiosks just went up in Union Square.  Several new restaurants have opened there over the past twelve months, with more to follow in the near future. Internationally celebrated graffiti artists (and twin brothers) Otavio and Gustavo Pandolfo recently created a new mural at the corner of Webster Ave and Washington on the wall of Mama Gina’s Pizza.

And on Saturday, August 11, from 6 to 10 p.m., the Somerville Arts Council and Union Square are hosting a Hungry Tiger Street Food Festival that will feature global cuisine from local restaurants as well as street performers (including fire throwers and spinners), live music and an open-air marketplace.

With Union Square already this lively, just imagine what the future will be like when “Somerville’s first downtown” regains its historic transit connections and becomes the home of a new Central Library.

We like to say that Somerville’s distinctive and appealing squares are the charms on the city’s bracelet. Each of our squares has a lot to offer and a promising future. From Magoun to Teele, from Assembly to Davis, from Ball to Gilman, there are great things ahead for all our squares. But right now, Union Square is shining so brightly that it’s practically glowing.