Dec 2019: Update on the Vacant Star Market Site

The Star Market site in Broadway has been vacant since 2007. That this large, centrally-located site has been blighted for so long has been a frustration to the surrounding community. In June 2019, we held a community meeting to explore whether the community would be interested in the City taking aggressive action on the site. Specifically, did residents want the City to use eminent domain to take the property? As you can see from the meeting notes, the overwhelming majority of participants wanted the City to consider taking the property.

At this meeting, staff presented two similar paths to take the property--a demonstration project or urban renewal. The demonstration project received the most votes as the preferred path, we think because it would be a quicker process and only focus on the Star Market site. Unfortunately, subsequent conversations with City legal counsel suggest that pursuing a demonstration project plan on this particular site may stall the project. Therefore, the remaining options are to wait for private development on the site or to pursue an urban renewal plan.

As a result, City staff is seeking feedback on two key questions. First, is an urban renewal plan the right path forward for the Star Market site? Second, if we do pursue an urban renewal plan, what should it look like?

We want to hear from you! We will be gathering feedback about these two questions throughout January. Here is how to get involved in the conversation:

Attend the community meeting. We will have an open house style meeting with stations for these different questions. Talk to staff and your neighbors about what you think is the right path forward.

Tuesday, December 17th from 6:00-7:30pm

Healey School (5 Meacham St, Somerville, MA).

Use the SomerVoice website. We will be posting more information and opportunities to share your feedback to this page after December 17th meeting.

Join us for office hours. City staff will be working in the neighborhood and available to answer questions or chat about this project. Check the SomerVoice page, as we will update it with new sessions as they are scheduled.

Stay in touch. You can follow this project by creating a SomerVoice account, or you can sign up for the email list here.