Mid-November 2023 - SomerNova, Gilman, Boston Indicators

It's a busy week for housing in Somerville!

November 11, 2023

Somerville YIMBY

News

Housing researcher Amy Dain has produced an incredible report for Boston Indicators, titled

. She finds clear evidence that cities throughout the Boston area have used

zoning as a tool of social exclusion against residents of color, lower-income and working-class residents, families with children, and more. Download the report or watch the presentation at Boston Indicators.Meanwhile, the Boston Globe has published their latest Spotlight report, focusing on Brookline's history of exclusionary zoning and high prices: "

Brookline’s effort to squash apartment construction within its borders 50 years ago was remarkably successful: Only about 3,700 housing units have been built since then, assessing records show. In comparison, Brookline saw far more robust development in the previous decade, building about the same number of units in just 12 years."

Events

Post-election and pre-holidays, Somerville has a pretty busy municipal schedule. In particular, there are SEVERAL meetings on Wednesday evening. If you plan to attend one and are able to take notes, please reply to this email and let us know!

:

Learn about what's going on with Highland Ave, Summer Street, School Street, and all the pipes underneath them. Monday 11/13 at 6:00 via Zoom.

:

Members of the Gilman Square Neighborhood Council want Somerville to move forward with development on the site of the Homan's building, currently a vacant gravel lot at the heart of the square. They'll meet on Wednesday 11/15 at 5:30 in the square and then head to City Hall to make their request in person.

:

Why are we doing all this sewer work? Well, it's legally required and stops us from dumping sewage into rivers during heavy rains. Join the city of Somerville, the city of Cambridge, and the MA Water Resources Authority (MWRA) to learn more about the process. Wednesday 11/15 at 6:00 pm, via Zoom.

SomerNova Planning:

SomerNova, the former Ames Envelope Factory, is planning to request some major changes to the zoning map to enable a $3 billion dollar redevelopment. How should that work? They're holding one in a series of community meetings to find out.

Wednesday 11/15 at 7, 29 Properzi Way, Somerville MA or online via Zoom.

: Members of Carbon Free Somerville will meet to discuss updates to Somerville Climate Forward, our municipal climate change plan. 11/15, 7:30 pm, via Zoom.

: Join AHMA and friends for a fundraiser and celebration of housing advocacy. Each ticket purchased before Nov 15th will come with a limited-edition AHMA triple decker pin designed by Juliet Eldred. Thursday, November 30, 7 pm, at Lamplighter CX (110 N. First Street, Cambridge.

January Book Club:

As a reminder, we'll be reading the Jenny Schuetz book

for our next book club meeting in January. If the cost is a barrier for you, reply to this message and we'll get you a copy.

As always, see

for housing policy details, and check out

for a more extensive list of upcoming events.