— Photos courtesy of Somerville by Design

By Emmanuel Vincent

The Assembly Square Neighborhood Plan Update Meeting took place this past Friday. Presented by Dover, Kohl & Partners, this virtual gathering focused on concepts in regards to mobility and street design ideas, as well as well as the infancy stage of a drafted economic development strategy.

This was the fifth meeting of Virtual Design Charrette Week, with the kick-off taking place on November 30. Members of the community were encouraged to be involved from the beginning, as their input is critical in the effort of shaping Assembly Square into a desirable and efficient neighborhood.

Early on in Friday’s meeting, it was reported that up to that date, there had been over 240 studio visitors and meeting attendees, along with 5,000 website views. “These plans are only as good as the ideas and information that we get,” insisted Jason King, principal of Dover, Kohl and Partners and Project Director for The Assembly Square Neighborhood Plan. The neighborhood will be a collective effort.

One of the topics discussed in meeting was the implementation of garden space in Assembly Square. Inspired by Italian and French gardens, this suggestion would give more of a vibrant, organic feel to the area. As opposed to a commercial space with security patrolling the premises, it would feel more like a community space. Everyone would be able to stroll and marvel at the topography. In addition, the space could be used for various events such as art exhibits, famer’s markets, and children’s field trips. The shared space could potentially strengthen the community, as residents would actively interact with one another.

The matter of parking was brought up in the presentation as well. For those within the community using vehicles as their main mode of transportation, finding a parking spot at any time of the day can be a tedious task. For those electing to cycle en route to their destination on a frequent basis, it can be overwhelming at times sharing the streets with automobiles.

What was a proposed was to reduce the need for parking. This can be done by enhancing the area’s infrastructure. One method that was mentioned in particular was to charge for parking. “When you provide free or low-cost parking, there’s no incentive for folks not to drive,” stated Keri Byke, principal of Howard Stein Hudson. “But if you start to charge for parking, you can actually reduce automobile commuting between 10-30 percent.”

The information that was presented at the meeting is in the draft stage and not yet finalized. The next meeting has not been scheduled as of yet. If you are interested in this project and would like to learn more, you can visit the city website. Friday evening’s presentation can be viewed on Dover Kohl’s YouTube page.

The ongoing refinement process for the Assembly Square Neighborhood Plan took a leap forward during the recent Virtual Design Charrette Week meetings.