ArtFarm promises to become a haven for the arts and a focal point for Somerville’s creative community.

By Sarah Levine

The area of Somerville near the Brickbottom district and Poplar Street used to be something that Somerville would not be proud to call its own. Home to a waste transfer station, residents often complained of rodents and unpleasant odors.

Thanks to generous grants from Artplace America and The Massachusetts Cultural Council, along with the hard work and dedication of the Somerville Arts Council since 2013, plans are underway to turn the space into something truly reflective of the artistic and community centered spirit of Somerville. Given the name ArtFarm, the location will be home to open spaces of grass, art studios, shops, a cafe, and more.

Peter Marquez, calling himself a “long time Somerville resident,” said at a Wednesday night meeting that the title of ArtFarm was born when the people of Somerville got together to develop an idea for a place that would “cultivate art, grow the community and really show who we are in Somerville.” It would be a model of what an open space could be, “especially as part of a growing and competitive part of the country.”

According to Marquez, the facility will begin construction as early as next year and will feature 65,000 square feet of open space, 32,000 square feet of space for art projects, 50-55 artist studios, and a year-round theater, cafe, and gallery. There will be room for food trucks and shops that grow local businesses and hopefully will draw people from out of town to Somerville in addition to giving the city’s residents a family focused and community centered open space. Plans are even underway for a mini-museum highlighting the Brickbottom district to showcase the progress that the area has made.

The plans underway for the carbon neutral site are also purposefully being made as sustainable and as good for the community as possible. With solar roofs, room to plant flowers and vegetables, year-round meeting and gathering spaces, and youth and educational programs, the ArtFarm is focused on community utility or “making it useful for the whole city.”

Throughout 2015, there are plans for “pop up activities” to get a taste for the community center and the good things it has in store for the future of Somerville.