Last Thursday the Somerville Board of Aldermen (BOA) voted 8-3 to send the Home Rule petition authorizing the Somerville Housing Authority to redevelop the Clarendon public housing development to the state legislature for approval. In addition, the Board of Aldermen unanimously approved sending a second Home Rule petition to the legislature that will authorize a land swap with the State DCR to enable the transformation of the rotary intersection at Powder House Blvd. and Alewife Brook Parkway into a T intersection with traffic signals. The BOA also approved a set of conditions under which the City of Somerville will provide $10 Million in support of the Clarendon redevelopment.
This was a huge hurdle to cross! We appreciate the consideration of all the aldermen, and especially the eight who voted in favor of the authorizing Home Rule petition. Many community residents and leaders have participated in and supported this redevelopment effort which began two years ago, and we thank all of them. We especially want to commend the Clarendon residents themselves, and their organization Clarendon Residents United, for clearly articulating and advocating for the new housing they very much need and deserve. It was clear from comments of the Aldermen themselves that the importance of new quality housing for the current and future public housing residents won the day, and has driven this redevelopment effort from day one.
Now that the Home rule petition has moved on to the State Legislature, we will all turn our efforts to ensuring passage there by July 31st, so the project can then move forward with the final design, zoning, and construction phases. We will continue to keep you informed and invite your support and participation in this next phase.
