Assembly Square will have a waterfront park

A bill to allow a waterfront park in Assembly Square has been signed into law by Governor Deval Patrick.

The legislation allows for a land swap between the Department of Conservation and Recreation and developers Federal Realty Investment Trust that is necessary for the creation of the open space. DCR will give Federal Realty a piece of land currently being used for winter boat storage in exchange for a larger parcel on the Mystic River.

The land swap will ensure increased access to Draw 7 Park and will allow for easements onto DCR property necessary for the planned construction of storm water improvements and other environmental infrastructure improvements that will benefit both Assembly Square and the Ten Hills neighborhood, according to city officials. 

“This land transfer allows for better access to the river for all residents, and an Assembly Square development that benefits from proximity to the river," said State Senator Patricia Jehlen, D-Somerville. “We are pleased that the developers have been able to promise pedestrian and bike access more directly from East Somerville to Draw Seven Park.”

Comments

[Courtney O'Keefe]

I know a lot of "green" people wanted some sort of open space at Assembly and this is a nice compromise, I think.

[Ville4Life]

When the hell are they gonna start building over at assembly sq? i want to see it finish before I die. By the way has anyone considered building a footbridge connecting ten hills to assembly? There is no safe way to the sq. in all directions from the city. Mcgrath* is too dangerous and maybe if designed with some nice blue lighting greeting people to Somerville will be not only good for pedestrians but also another landmark in the city?

[WinterHill]

Bye Bye winter hill yacht club and all the stuck up members who think they are better than everyone. This is a great day for Somerville. Now the average citizen of Somerville can have a chance to use the public waterfront instead of just the privileged members.
I can’t wait to see the wrecking ball knock down that club.

[Save the Yacht Club]

"privileged members" - who are you kidding? Many members are life-long Somerville members, who deserve to have their space just like everyone else. Just because you don't own a boat doesn't mean someone else shouldn't. My arthritis won't allow me to use a new bikeway along the river, that doesn't mean it shouldn't be built for those who can, does it? Let's get real, here. The Yacht Club has been around for a long time and they need to be treated fairly. Suddenly people have 'discovered' a long-forgotten area and now want to push out long-time residents. This is like gentrifiction times a million. They've already forced out Spaulding Brick. Who will be next? You better hope that they don't decide that your property sits on a valuable piece of land!

[Mystic River]

I attended a public meeting regarding Assembly Square and someone stood up and said 'The Winter Hill Yacht Club needs to be moved, it shouldn't be taking up valuable waterfront property'. I thought, how stupid, it's a BOAT club, should it be located on a mountainside? But I knew then that certain groups in the city who don't like to see anyone else have any fun were gunning for the yacht club. All fun must be their pre-approved fun: a pedestrian and bike path. Nothing else will do, noone else could possibly have a better plan for that location. Next they'll go after the guys who spend time down there fishing. Next, who knows? They won't be happy until all fun that they disapprove of has been eliminated. It's Big Brother time, and we must be very careful not to go down that road. Let's be truly inclusive and welcome all groups and activities to the area!

[Uncle Howie]

Winterhill, you hit the nail on the head. Its about time they got rid of the privileged few who use that club. What did they pay the State, one dollar a year for 20 years?

[Ron Newman]

The yacht club is not going way. Only their (inland) boat storage area is being taken as part of this land swap.

[WinterHill]

Ron, The club is going too. It may not actually say it in this article. They may not have said so in the meetings. Trust me, its gone. The days of the private boat club on public land are over. Perhaps if they weren’t so stuck up and allowed some average Somerville residents to join their precious club it would have remained. But they wanted to limit the membership to the elite members of society who don’t even live in Somerville. I know someone will fire back at me and say they are all from Somerville. It doesn’t matter. The point is, Public Land on Public Water is going to be utilized once again by the rightful owners. The PUBLIC!

Bye Bye Winter Hill Yacht Club.

[I hope you'll be happy]

Perhaps you'll be satisfied when the boat club is gone, and the huge buildings start going up! If you think that Federal Realty wants all of that land to give it back to the public you're seriously deranged. Look across the river and get ready - there will be offices and high-end condos taking virtually every bit of waterfront land. That boat club is far from 'elite' - have you ever been inside? And it uses a tiny fraction of land. There are no uses which can serve the entire public, so I fail to see what's so wrong with this use, which does serve the public, and which also brings the city tax revenue.

[Anne Judge]

Winterhill, where would you suggest the Winter Hill Yacht Club move to? They had their own property - private property - and the state took it for I-93. I don't see a lot of private waterfront property left near Winter Hill, and if it's there I doubt it's affordable for anyone not planning to build mega condos on the property.

I'll admit, I grew up spending some time around boatyards, as my dad - who grew up working class in East Cambridge - and most of his brothers got into sailing as kids. I don't see the ability to do that around Somerville now. I'm not saying the WHYC provides that, but I do hate to see boating being squeezed off the Mystic, which way back when was a hotbed of boatbuilding. I agree, walking and biking seem to be the only publicly approved waterfront uses recently.

[WinterHill]

I would like to quote the person who calls themselves “I hope you’ll be happy”

You said: “That boat club is far from 'elite' - have you ever been inside?
My reply is: No, I have never been inside. It is a private club. I’m not welcome.

You said: It uses a tiny fraction of land. There are no uses which can serve the entire public, so I fail to see what's so wrong with this use, which does serve the public.

My reply: It’s a huge piece of land in a city as small as Somerville.
Waterfront land is a precious commodity in any city so why is it ok that it is monopolized by a privileged few?

You also said: “which also brings the city tax revenue.”
What tax revenue?????? Last time I checked, The DCR does not pay taxes on its own land! You guys don’t even pay mooring fees like every other city and town. You don’t even pay excise tax unless you have a trailer that is registered in Somerville. So where is this tax revenue?

How many members does the WHYC have? Not as many as it could have!
How many members are Somerville residents? Not Many!
How many slips are vacant? A bunch!
How many club members had to “know someone” to join? All of them!
How many Somerville residents have been told they can’t join the club? Too Many!
What has the club EVER done for the citizens of Somerville?
Do they sponsor a sports team? Do they donate to the High School scholarship fund? Do they contribute to the community at all? The answer is NO! They do nothing but reap the benefits of using our public land and water for nothing in exchange!

What gives the WHYC the right to use our public land for private use? This is not about trails and bike paths and picnics. This is about a private exclusive club that does not care about Somerville or its residents who would like to use the waterfront too. I say tear down the “tiny fraction” as you call it and build a huge marina and have the DCR, or City run it. I say open it up to Somerville residents only. Let ALL Somerville residents have the opportunity to sail the river for a change. Then and only then will it be useful and generate some tax revenue. At the same time, it will generate happiness from the Somerville residents / taxpayers / boaters who love the waterfront but until now were prohibited from using it.

To Anne Judge,

Where do I suggest the WHYC move to? They won’t have to move anywhere. If they are Somerville residents, they can join the new marina I am suggesting here. Or, if they don’t want to mingle with the lower class (such as myself), they can sail across the river and fill out applications at the Mystic Wellington Yacht Club. At least Mystic Wellington will accept your application before they tell you that you can’t join! Anchors away my friend’s anchors away!

[Diane LeBlanc]

My husband became a member of Winter Hill Yacht Club in 1972 and owned a small open boat that was over 20 years old. He joined the club because he loved being on the river and the members became his family. When we married in 1978 these people became my family too. These were people who loved boating and fishing. Because many of us could not afford trips to Disney or Europe, Winter Hill Yacht Club became our vacation spot. We all took care of each others kids, had pot luck dinners and shared our love of green spaces and the river.
Winter Hill Yacht Club property was taken from them for the second time to build I93. The club was moved to their current location and built by the labor of their members. They in turn cleared the land for their parking lot and storage of their boats in the winter. During the summer this lot was used to park cars for functions, for bikers,for soccer players, for dog walkers, for fisherman who fished along the waters edge, and for families who used the waterfront park that has been there since the era of the MDC. Our members have many times mowed the lawn area along the rivers edge so families (not just Winter Hill Members) could come down and picnic or just enjoy the sights and sounds of the river.
On maps being shown to the public it shows that Foley Street is an abandoned road. It has never been an abandoned road because this street brings people down to our club, the soccer field, the bike path, and to the waterfront park and to the Emeilia Earhart Locks. The public is being told that there is going to be a new waterfront park, but in essence the waterfront park has been there for many, many years and being enjoyed by many Somerville, Charlestown, Everett, Burlington, Woburn, Malden, Medford, Arlington, Lexington, Melrose, etc residents who enjoy the boating, the birds, the animals, the greenery, the peace you receive when you enjoy the waters edge.
The members of Winter Hill Yacht Club or any of the other boat clubs along the river are no different that any of you. For many years we have sponsored groups of kids that have come to our club and enjoyed a holiday party with food and gifts. Some members are struggling to or not able to pay for gas to enjoy their boats, some have lost their businesses, their jobs, their homes because of this economy, and some have downsized but through all of this we are still family and try to help each other when one needs help.
May God bless all the negative people and have them come down and find the peace and tranquility that we have found here on the river for over a hundred years.