Meeting Notes - March 2, 2009

Time: 5:30-7:00pm
Date: Monday, March 2nd, 2009
Attendees: Pete Kane, Sarah Spicer, Susy Jones, Nupur Hiremath
Location: (har har) Dunkin’ Donuts, Davis Square


Meeting Objectives
- Discuss Mid-Term Presentation


Mid-term Presentation Section Outline and Presenter:
1. Presentation Outline

I. Opening - The Site **Pete**
A. Present Boundaries
B. Extended Parcel

II. The Neighborhood **Nupur**
A. History
B. Characteristics/Demographics
C. Project green line extension plans (connection to historical site characteristics) [Note: Pete, in the version you sent us at 7:47pm on 3/2/09 this section is missing].

III. Pros and Cons **Sarah**
A. Present State [Note: Pete, in the version you sent us at 7:47pm on 3/2/09 this section is also repeated in Section II].
B. List of Pros and Cons

IV. Intended Program **Susy**
A. Build Out - Uses
B. Features to be included
C. Intended LEED-ND Items

V. Sketches/Inspiration
A. Rough Sketch (of our proposed site plan) **Sarah**
B. Inspiration images/designs **Pete**


2. Details of Section III: Pros and Cons
Pros
• Proximity to Gilman Square T stop
• Proximity to City Hall, High School, Middle School, Public Library, Senior Center
• Located along a major artery (i.e. Medford Street
• Historical significance of Gilman Square (mixed-use neighborhood serviced by the train)
• Walkable neighborhood (can generate high volume of foot traffic for retail)
• Accessible by proposed community path

Cons
• Poor construction of the Homans building
• Unreliable timeline for Green Line extension project
• Proximity to train tracks (noise and safety issues)
• Reduced accessibility due to location at the bottom of a steep hill
• Possibly a poor choice for retail businesses? [Note: Nupur will research this further]


3. Details of Section IV: Intended Program
Build out/Uses:
• Tear down the Homans building
• Create open/park/garden space
• Locate retail store(s) on the 1st floor
o Grocery store
o Café
o Ethnic restaurants (as it is located in an ethnically diverse neighborhood)
• Locate office/civic space on 2nd floor
o Day care
o Energy or environmental non-profits or small businesses
o Gym (makes sense as the community path will be used by joggers and bicyclists)
o City offices (spill over from City Hall)
o Arts Center
o Community Center

Features:
• Green roof
• Underground parking lot
• Rain garden
• Outdoor seating
• Tiered roof
• Large glass windows on 1st floor
• Well-lit building
• Local artwork on site
• Bike service station (free air)
• Community path [Note: Mention that this is incidental as it is not in our hands].


4. Action Items for Monday, March 9, 2009

# Action (Person responsible)
1 Investigate whether this neighborhood of Somerville is good for retail - Nupur
2 Create a map of landmarks/resources (school, city hall, library, etc. - Susy
3 Look for a map of median incomes in the immediate vicinity of Homans - Nupur
4 Create a rough sketch of our proposed site plan - Sarah
5 Pull together inspiration images - Pete
6 Populate remaining powerpoint slides with info from Sarah/Susy/Nupur - Pete
7 Create a map of land use (residential, civic, retail, etc.) in Homans neighborhood - Susy/Sarah*

*Only if time permits.