Gilman Square Plan Implementation

The Gilman Square Station Area Plan was finalized in February of 2014. Since then, a lot has changed: the Green Line station design has evolved, we have received better information about the subsurface infrastructure that affects the intersection design, and the Somerville Zoning Overhaul has everyone thinking about zoning.

In addition, the Gilman Square Neighborhood Association (GSNA) formed in 2018. This group of residents and business owners meets regularly and hosts block parties, neighborly gatherings, and advocates for the neighborhood. In 2019, GSNA and the City signed an agreement to work collaboratively on the implementation of the neighborhood plan in Gilman Square. Since then, GSNA and the City have co-hosted community events together, discussed proposed developments in the area, and planned for future development projects like the Homans Building.

Now, GSNA and the City are working together to implement the neighborhood plan. We're strategizing around important sites like the Homans Building and working together to ensure we get broad participation in creating the future of Gilman Square.

Gilman Pop-Up summary

During the Summer of 2024, the Economic Development Division piloted a three-month outdoor community space called “Gilman Pop-Up” on a portion of a City-owned site at 350 Medford Street in Gilman Square. The Pop-Up was created and managed in partnership with a local placemaking and design firm, CultureHouse, and used funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (federal award number SLFRP175).

The project had three main goals:

• Bring vibrancy to the Gilman Square Neighborhood;
• Connect Gilman Square to the rest of Somerville;
• Test out temporary uses for vacant City-owned sites in Somerville.

From June through September, the site hosted 73 events and programs and over 4,000 visitors. Programming included regular vintage markets, biergartens, and food stands on Saturdays, as well as smaller events like Queer comedy shows, movie screenings, and yoga classes. The space was also available during normal park hours for passive use, with many people coming to use the hammocks or lawn games. CultureHouse collected data during their time managing the space and provided the City with a final report summarizing learnings and recommended next steps, which can be found here.

What’s next? Although the deadline for ARPA funding in September 2024 has meant that the Economic Development Division no longer has funding for programming on the site, the Gilman Pop-Up space will remain open to the public with temporary furniture and art until the site is redeveloped or if maintenance is needed.

Gilman Square community update in early 2023

A community update meeting was held on February 1st, 2023, to share updates from the past year related to Gilman Square and especially the Homans site (350 Medford Street).

The main updates were related to development of the Homans site. The City's Engineering Department confirmed that the potential installation of a stormwater tank at the Homans site would not preclude development, and that the City would find other ways to alleviate flooding if development of the site moved faster than the timeline to install a tank (which is reliant on other stormwater system improvements).

The City's Economic Development Division of the Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development (OSPCD) also informed the public that before the site can be developed, the City will need to complete a Disposition Plan to determine the City's priorities for disposing of City-owned parcels in different parts of the City, with the expectation that the Homans site will be a top priority. The City will then likely go through a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) process to identify potential development options for the site, and may then consider the use of an Urban Renewal Plan in Gilman Square with community input. This will all likely take at least two years. In the meantime, the City plans to work with the Gilman Square Civic Advisory Committee to activate the square in the short term, and plans to release an RFP in the coming months to facilitate this process. The City also reviewed mobility-related updates at this meeting related to the opening of the Green Line station in Gilman Square and a needed detour to the Community Path, amongst other topics.

Presentation slides from February 1st and a Video Recording are available.

Learning about Priorities for the Redevelopment of City-owned Properties in Gilman Square

A community meeting to kick off the conversation around priorities for redeveloping the City-owned properties in Gilman Square was held on March 14th, 2022. The presentation described the history of these properties and the vision for their future that has been in development since 2014. In this current phase, we want to hear what’s on your priority list for when these properties are redeveloped. Are there particular business types, community spaces, and housing opportunities that you would like to see considered here?

Presentation Slides from March 14th and Video Recording are Available

See what meeting attendees had to say by reviewing the Jamboards from the breakout sessions.

Want to share your ideas? Take the online survey! | Faça o inquérito | Haz la encuesta

Missed the meeting in March? Join the City of Somerville and the Gilman Square Civic Advisory Committee for a midday repeat of the workshop on Wednesday May 11th from 12:00 - 1:30 pm. https://voice.somervillema.gov/gilman-square-plan-implementation/widgets/17290/key_dates#18892

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On November 22nd, City staff provided an update on present and future projects in Gilman Square, presented the feasibility study for an accessible path from Marshall Street to the Medford Street Bridge and Community Path extension, discussed options for protected bicycle lanes on Medford Street and Pearl Street from the School Street to the Skilton Ave intersections, and gathered public feedback. Please refer to the recording and slides from the presentation. A survey was also conducted and the city's design team is now reviewing the feedback received. Thank you to all who participated!

Kreyòl Ayisyen: Pwojè sa se yon fason pou aplike plan ki genyen pou katye Gilman Square a. Pou entèpretasyon sou pwojè sa, tanpri kontakte 617-666-3311 oubyen voye on email nan: SomerViv@SomervilleMA.gov.

Português: Este projeto trata da implementação do Plano de Vizinhança da Gilman Square. Para tradução em português sobre este projeto, entre em contato com 617-666-3311 ou por e-mail SomerVivaPort@SomervilleMA.gov.

Español: Este proyecto se trata de implementar el Plan Vecinal de Gilman Square. Para obtener información sobre este proyecto, comuníquese con 617-666-3311 o por correo electrónico SomerVivaEspanol@SomervilleMA.gov.