Page 14 THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, JULY 15, 2022 City of Revere and Urban Land Institute announce Squire Road Urban Planning Workshop O n July 13, the City of Revere and the Urban Land Institute cohosted an urban planning workshop focused on Squire Road (Route 60) and its capacity to accommodate multimodal access to activate and connect mixed uses along the corridor. Squire Road in Revere is a major arterial that serves as a critical connection for commuters traveling to and from Revere from Routes 1, 16 and 107. The commercial corridor is an important economic pipeline to Revere’s local economy and workforce, with some of the city’s largest employers located on the corridor. Directly abutting residential neighborhoods and serving as a connection for thousands of regional commuters, there is endless opportunity to develop Squire Road in ways to improve traffi c patterns and strategically plan commercial and workforce opportunities. “Squire Road has long-needed a strategic plan to accommodate the city’s growth,” said Mayor Brian Arrigo. “Looking at this business district from another lens is necessary to move this city forward and we’re grateful for Urban Land Institute’s help on this project.” City planners have identifi ed development opportunities along the Squire Road corridor, including vacant, developable lots, green space opportunities, job-generating development, local and regional transportation improvements, and opportunities for enhanced urban design with the potential to both improve neighborhood access and enhance multimodal connectivity for commuters and peHOUSING | FROM Page 1 aff ordable housing units, developers would not have to provide parking spots if they were within a half mile of a public transit station, and only half a spot per unit if they were outside that limit. The ordinance would also provide zoning relief by decreasing lot size by 50 percent, setbacks by 25 percent and the fl oor area ratio by 25 percent. “So now we are going to take the neighborhoods that are surviving and not having parking issues right now and we’re going to create some,” said Rizzo. “I could not be any more against destrians. Focuses of the one-day planning workshop: • Identify opportunities to enhance the area’s diversifi cation of housing, retail and trade offerings – as well as outline clear urban design goals that reimagine the corridor’s identity as a candidate for smart growth that complements abutting neighborhoods. • Review existing zoning of the corridor related to applicability of better land use planning for Squire Road to position it for development opportunities that would transform it into an attractive and accessible mixeduse corridor. • Improve infrastructure of the roadway for residents walking and biking to and from the area to safely connect to shopping, jobs and recreational resources, such as the Northern Strand Community Trail. • Enhance transit access by adding additional bus stops for bus routes that travel to and through the corridor. • Recommend initial “quick wins” and programmatic/funding strategies to generate momentum for follow-on planning eff orts. The Urban Land Institute’s Technical Assistance Panel assembles one-day workshops of six to 12 panel members with expertise in real estate development, investments, urban design and engineering to communities looking to improve commercial areas. For more information about this planning initiative, please visit the City of Revere’s Department of Planning & Community Development page at www.revere.org. this than I am.” Rizzo said the ordinance was a matter of building more and giving builders more breaks. “I can see it coming: They will be combining lots, they will be buying homes and getting the increased fl oor ration and the parking benefi ts and the lot size,” he said. “It’s outrageous to me.” Ward 6 Councillor Richard Serino said he agrees with the concerns raised by Rizzo. “My biggest concerns, and what I have been hearing from residents, are parking and the 50 percent lot size reduction and the setbacks,” said Serino. “We are already seeing people buying one-famiMayor Files Emergency Request For Receivership Of 370 Ocean Avenue & Directs Emergency Funding To Support Displaced Residents’ Permanent Relocation City Inspectional Services Team to Conduct Investigations of Current Property Conditions Today at 4:00pm Meeting Of Displaced Residents Called For Next Week To Update On Progress And Relocation Efforts REVERE - Mayor Brian Arrigo fi led on Thursday, an emergency request for the court to impose a receivership for 370 Ocean Avenue to oversee the improvements necessary to the property. In addition to the fi ling today the City has already moved to foreclose on all three properties owned by the Carabetta family for outstanding tax title issues - currently, the property owners have $1.9 million in past taxes owed to the city. Mayor Arrigo also directed ARPA funding to be used as an emergency fund to assist displaced ly homes and knocking them down and building higher and higher. I just don’t think this is what we need right now.” City Council President Gerry Visconti said he believes the negative impacts for the community would outweigh the positives. Morabito attempted to keep the ordinance in subcommittee for further discussion. “Being that this is a subcommittee, I think we all agree that we need more aff ordable housing – right,” he said. “So maybe we should keep this in committee and anyone can submit any kinds of amendments that they deem is necessary.” residents in fi nding new permanent housing - and will move to collect on these funds from the property owner through litigation. “We will take every legal action possible against Carabetta for ignoring their legal obligations and total disregard for human dignity and decency as landowners and property managers in our city,” said Mayor Arrigo. The city inspectional services team today will conduct an inspection of the property to determine current conditions. The Following the meeting, a number of aff ordable housing advocates said they were deeply disappointed in the council’s vote and questioned why they did not counter with their own ideas to increase aff ordable housing in the city. “For a city that is under by a signifi cant amount 10 percent aff ordable housing and with zero policy to provide affordable housing, where are we?” asked Lor Holmes of the Revere Housing Coalition. “They voted something down that people worked very hard to put together, and they did not off er any alternatives.” Holmes said that if it does not violations and others already written against the deplorable conditions of the property will be subject to the oversight of a receiver should the courts honor the city’s request. Mayor Arrigo will also hold a meeting for displaced residents next week to update them on the current process and address some of their ongoing concerns he has heard through their work with the city human service agencies and provide resources to support their relocation to new permanent housing solutions. fi gure out a way to provide and increase its aff ordable housing stock, the city is opening itself up to 40B aff ordable housing developments. As to Rizzo’s position that an inclusionary zoning amendment would create runaway development, Holmes pointed to the rampant development of new units along Revere Beach and elsewhere over the past fi ve years that have provided no affordable units in the city. Holmes said the Revere Housing Coalition and other housing advocates in the city will continue to fi ght for policies to increase Revere’s aff ordable housing stock. North Suffolk Region Obtains Grant to Support Energy Efficiency T he City of Chelsea, City of Revere and Town of Winthrop, through the North Suffolk Office of Resilience and Sustainability (the Offi ce) and the Department of Housing and Community Development, have secured $60,000 from the Mass Save Community First Partnership Program to promote residential and small business energy effi ciency off erings through the Mass Save Program and Community Action Programs Inter-City (CAPIC) and in partnership with the grassroots environmental justice organization GreenRoots. Energy effi ciency has important fi nancial and public health benefi ts for residents and small businesses in Chelsea, Revere, and Winthrop. Residents and small businesses can save money on their monthly utility bills, reduce energy consumption, and be more environmentally friendly. Homeowners, tenants, and small businesses may be eligible for no cost or discounted upgrades to lighting, appliances, insulation, and weatherproofi ng. Notably, this year, the program is off ering a new array of aff ordable options to switch from gas or oil heating to electric heating and cooling systems. “The transition towards a cleaner and healthier environment in the region cannot be achieved unless we prioritize residents without the means to bring these improvements to their homes and businesses,” GRANT | SEE Page 21
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