BusinessTownMeeting2008 - 3rd annual
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3rd Annual Business Town Meeting: Building a Sustainable Community Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone Somerville Chamber of Commerce April 29, 2008 Business Town Meeting SUSTAINABILITY + INNOVATION = SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT 2008 Business Town Meeting Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone Sustainable Community: Finance, Environment, Transportation & Infrastructure 2008 Business Town Meeting Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone Sustainability: Fiscal Outlook Strong Bond Ratings Moody’s Standard & Poor’s Enhanced Commercial Tax Base “To capitalize on Somerville's desirable location and to facilitate continued growth, city management has embarked on an ambitious economic development plan.” Local Aid/State Budget FY09 Local Budget Update - Moody’s Investors Service 2008 Business Town Meeting Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone Sustainability: Transportation Upgrades Green Line Extension • Transportation Bond Bill approved • 6 new stops • Environmental Review underway Orange Line at Assembly Square Urban Ring • Inner Belt alternative preferred 2008 Business Town Meeting Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone Sustainability: Transportation Upgrades MPO Appointment TIP Projects • • • • • • Union Square Transportation Study I-93 / Mystic Ave Interchange Study Assembly Square Multi-Modal Magoun Square Beacon Street Community Path 2008 Business Town Meeting Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone Sustainability: Lower Broadway Streetscape Proposed TIP Project Wider Sidewalks (7 to 15 ft increase) Street Trees Pedestrian Lighting Intersection improvements ADA compliance $4,950,000 2008 Business Town Meeting Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone Sustainability: Somerville Ave. Project EDGE as CENTER Timeline envisioning the post-industrial landscape • Heavy excavation ending in June • Paving begins Spring ’09 • Project completion Sept. ’09 Traffic changes Additional Business Assistance • Cooperative Advertising • Cable Wheel • Updated Signs 2008 Business Town Meeting Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone Sustainability: Environmental Upgrades Green technology & energy: In Municipal Buildings • Wind energy credits • Solar panels on schools • Energy-efficient lighting In Vehicle Fleets • DPW biodiesel • SFD Hybrids • Smart Cars 2008 Business Town Meeting Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone Innovation: Best Practices & Cutting Edge Technology Tiny Somerville… is chockablock with cutting-edge ideas” “The best-run city in Massachusetts is not the biggest. - Boston Globe Magazine 2008 Business Town Meeting Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone Innovation: Inclusive Technology • 311 • SomerStat & ResiStat • Connect - CTY 2008 Business Town Meeting Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone Innovation: Understanding the Future Business Retention Analysis by Square Biotech / Life Sciences Creative Industries Green Business 2008 Business Town Meeting Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone Successful Development: Building an Urban Economy – The Smart Growth Solution 2008 Business Town Meeting Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone Business Development: Small Business in Somerville Small Business Assistance Somerville 4 Business Storefront Improvement Brownfields Development Business Welcome Kits Microfinancing – ACCION Business Workshop Series Talking Business Cable Program 2008 Business Town Meeting Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone Business Development: Assembly Square Riverfront urban village IKEA Update Assembly Square Drive Update Next steps 2008 Business Town Meeting Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone Business Development: Union Square Zoning Amendment Rewrite • Preserving neighborhood character • Emphasis on ground-level retail • Allow increased development in underutilized areas District Improvement Financing Union Square Transportation Study Green Line Extension 2008 Business Town Meeting Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone Business Development: Upcoming Projects Davis Square Hotel RFQ / RFP 43D Development Sites Permit Streamlining Powder House School 2008 Business Town Meeting Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone Business Development: Meet Our Staff OSPCD Recent Changes: Rob May – Economic Development Director Steven Azar – Economic Development Specialist Chris DiIorio – Senior Planner, Zoning David Guzman – Economic Development Specialist Steve Houdlette – Senior Economic Development Specialist Lori Massa – Planner, Zoning Ellen Schneider – Project Manager, Parks & Open Space Martha Tai – Senior Economic Development Planner Melisa Tintocalis – Principal Economic Development Planner 2008 Business Town Meeting Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone Community Partnerships: Mayor’s Summer Jobs Program Public-Private Partnership Opportunities for youth 20-30 hours/week • July 7th – August 22nd Contact: • Nancy Bacci, Youth Programming Coordinator 617-625-6600 x3314, NBacci@somervillema.gov 2008 Business Town Meeting Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone Contact Us Joseph A. Curtatone, Mayor Michael Lambert, Chief of Staff Monica R. Lamboy, Executive Director, OSPCD Rob May, Director of Economic Development (617) 625-6600 www.somervillema.gov
