Highland Avenue (Somerville)

Highland Avenue (Somerville)
Name	Highland Avenue
Location	Somerville, Massachusetts
Direction a	West
Terminus a	Davis Square
Direction b	East
Terminus b	Medford border
Maint	Massachusetts Department of Transportation; City of Somerville

Highland Avenue (Somerville) is a major thoroughfare in Somerville, Massachusetts connecting commercial, residential, and institutional districts between Davis Square and the Medford border. The avenue traverses neighborhood boundaries near Ball Square, Winter Hill, and Magoun Square, serving as an axis for transit links to MBTA Red Line, MBTA Green Line, and MBTA bus routes. Over time it has been shaped by industrial change, transit-oriented development, and municipal planning linked to regional initiatives such as the Big Dig and the Urban Ring proposals.

History

Highland Avenue developed in the 19th century amid expansion driven by the Boston and Lowell Railroad, the Middlesex County road network, and industrial growth in Jefferson Park and Foss Park. Early landowners included families associated with Somerville Historical Society holdings and local manufacturing tied to firms like Keystone Machine Works and mills related to the Industrial Revolution. The avenue's streetscape was influenced by municipal ordinances from the City of Somerville and regional improvements sponsored by the Massachusetts General Court. During the 20th century, infrastructure projects such as electrification of streetcar lines by companies connected to Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway altered alignment and traffic patterns. Postwar suburbanization and later gentrification paralleled transformations in nearby corridors such as Massachusetts Avenue and Broadway, while preservation efforts invoked charters from the National Register of Historic Places and local commissions like the Somerville Historic Preservation Commission.

Route and Description

Highland Avenue begins near Davis Square adjacent to Tufts University, runs northeast past Somerville High School, and continues toward the Medford border. Along its course it intersects major arteries including Somerville Avenue, College Avenue, and Washington Street, and connects to regional routes such as Massachusetts Route 16 and Massachusetts Route 28. The avenue passes diverse built forms: triple-decker residences typical of New England triple-decker, Victorian-era houses influenced by patterns seen in Beacon Hill, mixed-use commercial blocks reminiscent of Harvard Square, and adaptive-reuse projects similar to conversions along Fort Point Channel. Utilities and right-of-way work have involved agencies like the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority and the MassDOT.

Landmarks and Notable Buildings

Notable sites proximate to Highland Avenue include educational institutions such as Tufts University, cultural venues comparable to the Somerville Theatre, and community centers like Arlington-area facilities. Architectural highlights reflect styles represented in the Victorian architecture, Colonial Revival, and Italianate architecture movements, with select buildings comparable to properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Somerville. Religious architecture along or near the avenue echoes examples like First Church in Cambridge and parish houses similar to St. Clement's Church. Recent adaptive reuse projects mirror developments at Assembly Row and warehouse conversions in Seaport District, while local businesses include cafés and restaurants that draw comparisons to establishments in Davis Square and Union Square.

Transportation and Traffic

Highland Avenue is served by multiple MBTA bus routes and lies within walking distance of Davis Station on the MBTA Red Line and planned Green Line Extension stops near Medford/Tufts station. Bicycle infrastructure is influenced by regional plans from Metro Boston Planning Organization and advocacy by groups akin to Massachusetts Bicycle Coalition. Traffic management strategies have implemented standards similar to Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices guidelines and incorporated signals coordinated by Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority and MassDOT projects. Parking policy and curbside regulation reflect ordinances set by the City of Somerville and examples from neighboring municipalities such as Cambridge and Boston.

Parks and Recreation

Green spaces reachable from Highland Avenue include parks and playgrounds related to municipal holdings like Davis Square pocket parks, neighborhood greenways modeled on Emerald Necklace concepts, and recreation fields comparable to those at Foss Park and Powder House Park. Community organizations akin to Friends of the Public Garden and local conservancies coordinate tree planting and stewardship initiatives consistent with efforts by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation.

Development and Urban Planning

Recent planning along Highland Avenue has been shaped by zoning revisions adopted by the Somerville Board of Aldermen, transit-oriented development principles promoted by the Metropolitan Area Planning Council, and infill projects similar to those in Kendall Square and Assembly Row. Affordable housing initiatives align with state programs administered by the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development and exemplify models used in Boston Housing Authority collaborations. Community engagement follows precedents set by neighborhood processes used in Union Square redevelopment and environmental review practices under the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act.

Category:Streets in Somerville, Massachusetts