New financing plan involves 450 acres, $944 million in tax base

By Jeremy F. van der Heiden

As city officials rush to put together a 30-year-economic development plan, a proposal to allow tax revenue generated from improvements in specific neighborhoods to go directly back to those areas is being questioned by local business owners.

The District Improvement Financing Plan, presented at a Sept. 15 public hearing, could potentially turn several city properties into parking garages and the Union Square post office into a performing arts center. The plan involves 450 acres and $944 million of local tax base.

The dramatic changes and short notice from city officials concerned local business owners at last week’s meeting. Chamber of Commerce President Stephen Mackey said city officials did not explicity inform business owners that their land may be up for eminent domain taking.

“The notice didn’t tell business owners, ‘your propoerty is on the list,” said Mackey. He said the city was not required to do so by law but should still fully inform business owners. “We’re saying to City Hall, don’t just rely on the bare minimum to be in accordance with the law, make sure all the businesses know.”

The plan includes changes to 362 residential parcels, 187 commercial parcels, and 61 industrial parcels, making up around 445 acres, or 15 percent of the land area of Somerville, and just over 16 percent of its property value.

Only a few of the 36 properties slated for possible eminent domain taking by the city were at the meeting. One property that could be taken and turned into a parking garage is Ricky’s Flower Mart on Somerville Avenue. Ricky DiGiovanni, the owner, said he never received notice from the city that his business may be taken and turned into a parking garage..

The DIF proposal will be presented to the Board of Aldermen this Thursday and written comments from the public accepted until Sept. 29.