Neighborhood offers comments and criticism on new Magoun Square plan

By George P. Hassett

  A new plan to revitalize Magoun Square was presented to neighborhood residents tonight by Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone, Ward 5 Alderman Sean T. O‚ÄôDonovan and David Giangrande of Design Consultants. In March, Curtatone and O‚ÄôDonovan said an existing plan did not meet the needs of the neighborhood and cancelled it.

    ‚ÄúMoving forward with that plan would have been like buying a house that needs to be rehabbed and painting it first. This plan addresses the traffic and safety issues of the square as well as beautifying it,‚Äù he said.
     But neighborhood activist Joseph P. Lynch said he sees little improvement in the new plan.
     ‚ÄúThis plan calls for a couple more crosswalks and a new island with five trees. Any left-handed traffic turn in Magoun Square is a dangerous one and Medford Street is a logjam in rush hour. It doesn‚Äôt sound like this plan addresses these problems,‚Äù he said.
     The original plan was slated to cost $540,000. The new one is estimated at $1.5 million and it will cover 30% more of the neighborhood than the old one, said Giangrande.
     Lynch said there was no dramatic difference between the two plans and the improvement in the latest plan is not worth another delay.
     ‚ÄúI don‚Äôt see a 30% extension. What is the extra million dollars doing? Does it make it safer to walk to Little Vinnie‚Äôs? Does it make it safer to cross Medford Street,‚Äù he said.
      Giangrande said the plan had been ready for weeks but he, Curtatone and O‚ÄôDonovan wanted to get the community‚Äôs input before moving forward. An advisory group will be organized and the consultants will meet with the group at least one more time before moving forward and filing a request for aid from Mass Highway, he said.