Last Saturday, the Union United coalition met to discuss priorities for the Union Square redevelopment process and begin to craft a community benefits agreement that can eventually be negotiated with the city and the master developer.

Union United is a coalition of stakeholders, including small business owners, residents, activists, immigrant groups, religious congregations, labor unions, and community-based organizations, working to ensure that the Union Square redevelopment process results in tangible benefits – not displacement – for the Union Square community.

Over fifty people attended the coalition kickoff, which was held in The Uniun in Union Square. After relationship building over coffee and pastries, coalition members gave presentations on the Union Square redevelopment process and answered questions from attendees. There was also a presentation on community benefits agreements (CBAs), legally enforceable contracts that have been used across the country to ensure that developments include community benefits like affordable housing, open space, local hiring, and support for small businesses.

“Community benefits agreements are an important tool to make sure that community needs are met when development happens,” said Somerville Community Corporation member Van Hardy, who presented about CBAs. “We’re looking at this development process through an equity lens. The real experts in this situation are the residents, business owners, and workers whose lives and livelihoods are based in Union Square.”

Midway through the meeting membership pledges were signed by the coalition members (listed below) and 36 additional individuals, many of them Union Square residents. The pledge commits coalition members to equitable outcomes like affordable housing, community space and resources, local jobs and workers’ rights, open and green space, public safety, support for small and local businesses, and transparent and participatory planning processes.

Coalition members posing after the event.

“Affordable housing is a really important issue for us; we see members who are just starting out in the municipal unions struggle with the Somerville residency requirement,” said Tom Ross, president of the Somerville Firefighters Association and co-chair of the Somerville Labor Coalition. “We’re seeing families get pushed out and we want to make sure that city workers and others can stay and contribute to this city.”

The coalition has already met with two of the shortlisted master developers, as well as Ward 3 Alderman Bob McWatters, to share community priorities and begin a dialogue about the CBA process. In the coming weeks, the coalition hopes to meet with Ward 2 Alderman Maryann Heuston, the other shortlisted developers, the Somerville Redevelopment Authority, the Civic Advisory Committee, and the Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development.The coalition will also continue reaching out to more stakeholders, including resident groups. Ultimately, the coalition’s goal is to include language in the City’s Land Disposition Agreement with the Master Developer that stipulates a community benefits agreement.

The current members of the Union United coalition are:

Community Action Agency of Somerville/Tri-CAP

Concord Ave Community Space

Groundwork Somerville

Immigrant Service Providers Group/Health

Link Somerville

Fr. Brian McHugh (pastor of St. Joseph’s, St. Catherine’s, and St. Ann’s parishes)

Service Employees International Union Local 888

Somerville Community Access Television

Somerville Community Corporation (Affordable Housing Organizing Committee, Jobs for Somerville, Land Use Committee)

Somerville Labor Coalition

Teen Empowerment

Union Square Small Business Alliance

The Welcome Project