Amid News of Delays, Gilman Square Plans for Green Line

Somerville was shocked to learn early this month that until sometime between 2018 and 2020.

For most of 2011, Somerville residents were under the impression the transit project would be complete sometime in 2015. In the weeks before the news of delays, many in the city were making plans for the extension of the subway line into Somerville. For instance, throughout June, the MBTA and Massachusetts Department of Transportation held a series of workshops to discuss the designs of Green Line stations. 

One neighborhood, Gilman Square, which is near city hall along Medford Street, held a series of meetings to discuss the potential impacts to the neighborhood of the planned Green Line station.

At the meetings, held in July, residents and community organizers developed a list community priorities and discussed opportunities for both change and preservation in the neighborhood.

Hosted by the Community Planning Corridor (CCP), a coalition of several community organizations led by a 16-member resident advisory team, the workshops focused what would happen to Gilman Square when the Green Line comes.

“Developers, planners, and the city will be coming to make decisions, but it’s really what you want in your neighborhood that’s our priority,” said Claudia Rabino, a Community Planning Corridor advisory board member addressing residents at one of the workshop. 

Those who attended the meetings were shown a presentation that included statistics gathered from the U.S. Census Bureau about the population, average income and amount of affordable housing in the area—defined as the half mile radius around the station, which would be built near the intersection of Medford and School streets. 

Residents then gathered in groups to discuss the important aspects of the neighborhood—the buildings and facilities that make Gilman Square home. 

“We want to build a map of the neighborhood the way the residents envision it,” Ms. Rabino said. “If any new concerns are brought up, we’ll bring it to the pertinent entity. We are good at communicating with whoever will give us an answer."

Most of those in attendance were excited about the prospect of a Green Line station in their neighborhood. 

“We’ve been waiting and waiting for this,” said Somerville resident Alicia Byrd. “It will be nice being able to walk out of my house and walk a block and be able to go anywhere.”

Aside from convenience, residents and board members believe the station will also offer a more environmentally friendly travel alternative. 

“The big picture is that hopefully it will get people out of their cars and moving,” said CCP advisory board member, Leanne Darrigo. “Hopefully this will be a way to alleviate pollution.” 

But anxieties abounded and the results of the workshop showed that affordable housing was a key concern for the community. 

“The only thing I worry about is the cost of housing,” Byrd said. “I think that the city will leave [homeowners] alone, but I have a feeling that it’s the renters that will get hit. The only way my kids will be able to afford to live in Somerville is to move back in with mom.” 

“I think long term it’s inevitable that there will be more pressure put on housing,” said Karl Thidemann, a Somerville resident. “My real concern is traffic and whether parking will be an issue.”

“Suppose they have to put in meters,” said Somerville resident, Maria Garcia. “Will parking spaces be less available and will taxes go up? It’s too high already.” 

Other concerns included maintaining diversity in general, farmers markets, local businesses, playgrounds and preserving green space in the neighborhood.

Community organizers hope to address issues and more as they continue to engage with the community in these discussions.

For more information concerning the Community Planning Corridor, visit interactivesomerville.org.