by Neil W. McCabe

Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone participated in an economic development forum “Advancing Somerville: Symposium on Strategic Growth,” hosted March 29 by Tufts University President Lawrence Bacow.

The forum was designed to highlight the city’s competitive business advantages and to address the obstacles that have long impeded local development, the mayor said.

“Somerville has several enormous advantages – a strategic location from which businesses can easily integrate with regional industry clusters, an educated workforce, and a highly concentrated population that in many respects is an untapped market,” he said.

“This forum and the events that will follow over the next several months will highlight these advantages, but they will do more. They will also address the obstacles that in the past have discouraged development,” he said.

The mayor said, “Our goal is to find solutions to real problems and to correct long-held misperceptions about how difficult it is to do business in Somerville.”

A major theme of the city’s year-long initiative was the benefits that can be derived by integrating Somerville more fully into the Boston/Cambridge economic orbit, not just for Somerville but for the entire region. 

“This region is home to strong clusters in the life-science, education, financial services and tourism industries, and Somerville is ideally situated to participate in or support each of them,” said James Kostaras, the city’s director of strategic planning.

“Through these various events, we want to send the message that there is a new attitude in the city toward development,” he said.

“We welcome businesses and developments that recognize the competitive advantages of locating in Somerville and will promote goals that are in line with the city’s vision,” he said.

The city government is working to reduce regulatory hurdles, simplify the permitting process and develop strategies to ease the liability burdens of those willing to redevelop Brownfield sites, he said.

Development momentum is beginning to build, as evidenced by the recent purchase by Federal Realty Investment Trust, a Maryland-based REIT, had negotiated the purchase of Assembly Square Mall and surrounding parcels, which will be developed into a mixed-use village, Curtatone said.

One issue addressed was the inadequate communication channels among businesses and developers and community organizations and city government, he said.

“We must open these channels to avoid misunderstandings. When they are closed, tensions are created that drive away businesses. Everyone must understand that good economic development plans are good social plans as well,” he said.

More than 100 developers, business and government leaders and other invited guests heard presentations by Somerville Mayor Joseph Curtatone and Strategic Planning and Community Development Director James Kostaras.

This presentation was followed by a panel discussion that focuses on growth opportunities in Somerville in the context of a dynamic economic region.  Panelists include David Clem, Lyme Properties; Donald Briggs, Federal Realty Investment Trust; Robert Culver, MassDevelopment; and Richard Dimino, Artery Business Committee.

Curtatone said in the coming months, the city will host a series of roundtable discussions, each one focused on the requirements of a particular industry cluster.

White Papers will be published following the sessions with the expectation that these documents will be used to guide policy debates. Also scheduled is an urban design ideas competition, the mayor said.

Architects and urban planners will be invited to submit designs that, consistent with the city’s unique aesthetic, nurture the economic and social life of Somerville neighborhoods, he said.

This competition will be open to students and professionals and is expected to garner attention from across the nation.  A cash prize will be awarded to the winners, he said.