EV R Vol. 33, No.31 -FREEEVE ER TT www.advocatenews.net Your Local News & Sports Online. Scan Here! ADDOCCO TEAT Free Every Friday 617-387-2200 Friday, August 2, 2024 Revitalization of Everett Sq. starts with eminent domain of unsightly Bouvier Building Time for certain city councillors to set personal politics aside for betterment of the city By Neil Zolot A t their meeting Monday, July 22, the City Council rejected a request from Mayor Carlo DeMaria to borrow $3 million for improvements to Everett Square. The same city councillors had also done so at prior meetings on April 29 and May 13. Members raised objections about parking, new street confi gurations and traffi c patterns that would create common space. The Square has been described as the Heart of Everett, but DeMaria pointed out, “It’s not in the best condition.” He’s right. Everett Square, weighed down by the ancient Bouvier Building, is long overdue for a facelift. An intersection like Everett Square is not only the center of a commercial district, but, hopefully, a touchstone and a place to showcase the culture and personality of a community. Think about what Harvard Square, Davis Square and Copley Square mean to Cambridge, Somerville and Boston. Unlike Cambridge and Boston, Everett doesn’t have a Common or something like Revere Beach. Revere’s Common near its City Hall is small, but at least it’s there. The irregular shape of downtown Chelsea around its City Hall makes for a good area to cordon off and provides space for street fairs. Saugus Center, anchored by a rotary, is closed for its Town Day every year. Most of Everett’s open space is in its cemeteries. Glendale Park needs to be used lightly to keep it in shape for sports. Rivergreen Park/Playground isn’t centrally located and hard to get to, even more so than Mary O’Malley Park in Chelsea. Wehner Park, where Broadway meets Lynn Street, SINCE 1921 Messinger Insurance Agency 475 Broadway Everett, MA 02149 Phone: 617-387-2700 Fax: 617-387-7753 NEW COMPETITIVE AUTO RATES AND BENEFITS AVAILABLE ACCIDENT FORGIVENESS DISAPPEARING COLLISION DEDUCTIBLE 11% DISCOUNT WITH SUPPORTING POLICY 10% COMBINED PAY IN FULL DISCOUNT AND GREEN DISCOUNT 10% GOOD STUDENT DISCOUNT Celebrating 100 years of excellence! Monday thru Friday: 8am to 6pm Saturdays 9am to 1pm! Check out our NEW website! www.messingerinsurance.com is small and at the northern end of the city bordering Malden. Can Everett Square be a Harvard Square or Copley Square? No, but it can be more than it is. Could Everett close Broadway from City Hall to the Parlin Library for events? Yes, but nothing ever gets done the easy way. After the votes by the City Council, where do things go from here? City Council action on April 29 and May 13 were votes to reject plans, but also ask for REVITALIZATION | SEE PAGE 9 A Community Steps Up! The Everett High Football team would like to thank the following alumni who helped get the team to camp this year: John Sagarino, Mike McLucas, Sabatino Guerrero, Vincent Panzini, Sergio Cornelio, Councilman Anthony DiPierro, and Franz and Carl Ebert of Vogel Vending. It’s this sense of community that helps these boys achieve their goals. Roll Tide Roll! Pictured from left to right: Everett Director of Human Services Jerry Navarra, Everett High Football Head Coach Justin Flores and EHS alumnus Ross Pietrantonio, who starred in basketball and football. (Courtesy photo)
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