The Urban Design Commission is currently considering approval plans for a multi-unit building for 73 Summer Street, which is currently the location of a now closed service station. — Photo by Bobbie Toner

By Max Eidelman

The city’s Urban Design Commission met on Tuesday, January 26, to approve new rules and regulations, as well as listen to presentations regarding proposed unit developments.

Among the new rules and regulations, which were unanimously approved, is a revision concerning the high-rise district that now allows for 7-story buildings in the affordable-housing overlay. This is intended to “maximize the buildout potential of those buildings to maximize the amount of affordable housing that they produce.” Other revisions were addressed but the bulk of the meeting focused on proposed building developments.

By Joe Creason

On Thursday January 28, the Somerville City Council held a regular meeting via teleconference in accordance with Govern Baker’s executive order in regard to the Open Meeting Law.

The City Council meeting began with a series of remembrances for recently deceased residents. After the memorializations, there were several infrastructure items on the agenda to determine the maintenance of roads, including the installation of conduit and manholes at Somerville Avenue, Prospect Street and Medford Street.

Mayor Joe Curtatone announced that certain Phase 3 Step 1 businesses, including fitness clubs and gyms, may once again open in Somerville as of Monday, February 1, the same day that related rollbacks will end in Boston, and one week after early closing requirements were lifted statewide by Governor Baker. Businesses impacted by recent activity rollbacks and restrictions on operating hours may also revert to Somerville pre-rollback operating hours, which allow outdoor seating until 11:30 p.m.

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

Dear Editor,

Jack Connolly’s letter last week highlights the conflict between the parking and the bike lobbies, both of which want to use the streets to their ends. The restaurants in Davis Square would like to have the outside dining extended – so would their customers. The “experiment” of last summer and fall worked. Traffic still moved and pedestrians were safer because the traffic was calmer. Taking parking spaces for outside dining has an impact, but it serves customers. Taking parking for bike lanes and peak hour bus lanes makes cycling easier and safer and is helpful for bus commuters.

Layla, from the Argenziano School, contributed this piece of artwork to the project directed by art teacher Diana Taremi.

Argenziano School art teacher Diana Taremi says, “We are spending a lot of time in our homes, walking on our own blocks and spending time in our communities right now because of the pandemic.” Taremi draws on her decades of teaching experience to engage her students in exciting projects within the remote learning environment.

Arguments both for and against eliminating a certain number of street parking spaces in the Davis Sq. area to make way for bike lanes have been heating up lately.

Many of the points being made on each side make sense, and it is clear that some kind of a compromise would be ideal, if such a thing is possible.

Arrests:
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 Terrel Dorest, of Medford, January 25, 11:07 a.m., arrested at McGrath Hwy. on a charge of larceny over $1,200.

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By Off the Shelf correspondent Parma Chai

My friend Parma Chai notified me that the famed “Out of the Blue Gallery” has moved to Somerville-housed in the Arts Armory. The Out of the Blue has a long history, and I have had a long history there as well, like many local artists in our community. Although I haven’t attended an event for a while, I have rich memories of the poetry readings, barbecues, and all the poets and writers I met over the years there. Probably 15 years ago the gallery put out an anthology, The Out of the Blue Writers Unite, edited by Timothy Gager and Deborah Priestly, which I was proud to be part of. I am so glad they have found a new home — Doug Holder

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This poem by Somerville Bagel Bard Wendell Smith is a response to Somerville poet Bert Stern’s poetry collection, What I got for a Dollar.

Move cars from city lots by 11:00 a.m. Property owners must shovel sidewalks by 1:00 p.m., Tuesday.

The City of Somerville’s snow emergency will end Tuesday, February 2, at 9:00 a.m., and normal parking rules will resume at that time. The information below offers tips to avoid ticketing and towing as well as strategies for being a good neighbor and staying safe.