SomerVision

SomerVision. SomerVision is a comprehensive, long-range community plan for the City of Somerville, Massachusetts, adopted in 2012. Developed through an extensive public process, it established a 20-year framework to guide growth, development, and investment across the city. The plan aimed to balance ambitious goals for housing creation, economic development, and sustainability with the preservation of community character and the enhancement of public spaces.

Background and development

The initiative emerged in response to significant regional pressures, including the impending arrival of the Green Line Extension and the broader growth of the Greater Boston area. The Metropolitan Area Planning Council partnered with the Somerville City Council and then-Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone to launch the planning process. This effort involved thousands of residents through community meetings, workshops, and surveys, aiming to create a shared vision for the city's future. The process was also informed by studies of land use, transportation, and demographics, culminating in its adoption as the city's official master plan.

Goals and objectives

Central goals included the creation of 6,000 new housing units by 2030, with 1,200 designated as affordable, to accommodate growth and promote socio-economic diversity. The plan sought to add 30,000 new jobs, focusing on sectors like life sciences, technology, and the creative economy, particularly in areas such as Assembly Square and Union Square. It also established targets for enhancing sustainability, aiming for a city-wide net-zero energy footprint and significant increases in open space and tree canopy. A core objective was to improve multi-modal transportation and connectivity, reducing reliance on the automobile.

Key components and strategies

A primary strategy involved transit-oriented development, concentrating new density and mixed-use projects around current and future Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority stations like those in Davis Square and along the Green Line (MBTA). The plan designated specific "Growth Districts," including the redevelopment of Assembly Row and the revitalization of the Boynton Yards and Brickbottom areas. It outlined policies for preserving existing neighborhoods, improving parks and playgrounds, and creating a network of protected bicycle lanes and pedestrian pathways. Strategies also emphasized supporting local arts and culture, strengthening the commercial corridors along Broadway and Highland Avenue, and investing in climate resilience.

Implementation and progress

Implementation has been advanced through subsequent zoning reforms, including the adoption of the Somerville Zoning Ordinance and specific district plans for Union Square and the GLX corridors. Major projects like the transformation of Assembly Square into a mixed-use neighborhood and the construction of the Assembly Station demonstrate progress. The city has also launched initiatives for affordable housing trust funds, community benefits agreements, and sustainability programs. Tracking of metrics, such as housing permits and job growth, is conducted through regular monitoring reports, with adjustments made through periodic plan updates.

Public reception and criticism

The plan has been praised for its forward-looking, data-driven approach and for establishing a clear roadmap for managed growth. However, it has also faced criticism from some residents and community groups who argue that rapid development has accelerated gentrification, raised housing costs, and displaced long-time residents. Concerns have been raised about the pace of change in neighborhoods like East Somerville and whether the affordable housing targets are sufficient. Debates continue over the balance between density and neighborhood character, the adequacy of public infrastructure, and the distribution of the plan's benefits across all communities within the city.

Category:Urban planning in the United States Category:Somerville, Massachusetts Category:2012 in Massachusetts