Meeting Notes: August 11, 2016
August 11, 2016 - Support Arlington Center Meet with Town Officials (private meeting)
Meetings with landlords and progress on storefronts
There are many encouraging developments on the issue of vacant storefronts! Spurred by so much interest from SAC members, town officials have met and are working closely with the landlords responsible for the bulk of the current vacancies.
Though one landlord’s plans were not as clear, two of the landlords are actively working to get tenants in to spaces on both sides of Massachusetts Avenue. While they are not yet ready to make specific announcements, it is likely that at least some of the new businesses will be food-related. (This is good news, as food-related businesses, such as restaurants, cafes and bakeries, were among the highest-ranked businesses residents would like to see in town, according the results of our survey.)
Reasons for vacancies
In general, the meetings revealed little on the reasons for individual vacancies, other than a desire on the part of the landlords for higher rent. We will have to see whether Arlington can support higher rents than are currently being received.
Fines, tenant protections, and rent control
While we are encouraged by these developments, the fact of some long-term vacancies has been discouraging. The town is investigating a fine structure that could be used to disincentivize leaving storefronts vacant for too long. The proposal will possibly be floated at our public meeting this fall, with the possibility of being put before Town Meeting at either a special fall session or in the spring. There are no particular provisions for tenant protections in Arlington, and Massachusetts does not have rent control.
Arlington Center construction and redesign
Arlington Center Safe Travel Project
Massachusetts Avenue Streetscape Concept Plan: Mill Street to Pond Lane
The Town is working on development improvements for Arlington Center's Massachusetts Avenue between Mill Street and Pond Lane. The Town has been gathering public input on topics such as: What makes Arlington Center great? What streetscape improvements will make Arlington Center a better place to live, work, and visit? What features need to be improved within the sidewalks and public areas such as Broadway Plaza and the streetscape in front of Town Hall? The next public meeting to present the latest proposals for the redesign of the Center Streetscape will be held on September 22, 2016 at the Senior Center at 7 p.m. Learn more >
Next Steps: Upcoming meetings & community questions
Meetings with landlords and progress on storefronts
There are many encouraging developments on the issue of vacant storefronts! Spurred by so much interest from SAC members, town officials have met and are working closely with the landlords responsible for the bulk of the current vacancies.
Though one landlord’s plans were not as clear, two of the landlords are actively working to get tenants in to spaces on both sides of Massachusetts Avenue. While they are not yet ready to make specific announcements, it is likely that at least some of the new businesses will be food-related. (This is good news, as food-related businesses, such as restaurants, cafes and bakeries, were among the highest-ranked businesses residents would like to see in town, according the results of our survey.)
Reasons for vacancies
In general, the meetings revealed little on the reasons for individual vacancies, other than a desire on the part of the landlords for higher rent. We will have to see whether Arlington can support higher rents than are currently being received.
- The landlords expressed disinterest in mixed-use development, quashing speculation that perhaps the vacancies were part of a plan to clear buildings for that kind of a change.
- The vacancies are also not due to an inappropriately low property tax rate; the properties have continued to be assessed, and the assessments raised, regularly.
- In other news, Punjab will reopen in September. Their vacancy was due to flooding from a pipe burst and ensuing tussle with the insurance company.
- The property across from the high school (with red X) is set to be rebuilt – we don’t yet have further information on this property.
Fines, tenant protections, and rent control
While we are encouraged by these developments, the fact of some long-term vacancies has been discouraging. The town is investigating a fine structure that could be used to disincentivize leaving storefronts vacant for too long. The proposal will possibly be floated at our public meeting this fall, with the possibility of being put before Town Meeting at either a special fall session or in the spring. There are no particular provisions for tenant protections in Arlington, and Massachusetts does not have rent control.
Arlington Center construction and redesign
Arlington Center Safe Travel Project
- The primary goal of the MassDOT's Arlington Center Safe Travel Project is to provide a safe connection for the Minuteman Bikeway through Arlington Center, improve roadway safety and mobility for all users, plus upgrade infrastructure (roads, signals, and curb ramps) in the project area. The project started the first week of April 2016. The majority of work will be done by the end of November 2016, with the exception of the traffic signals.
- The town is installing a “smart” bike lane crossing to help cyclists cross Mass Ave from one opening of the bike path to the other. This includes sensors in the road, pedestrian lights, and sidewalk bump-outs at the intersections.
- The Town website has regular updates on three-week increments of the construction schedule. These are also publicized by the Chamber of Commerce, on Twitter, in the Advocate, and many other venues, including flyering.
Massachusetts Avenue Streetscape Concept Plan: Mill Street to Pond Lane
The Town is working on development improvements for Arlington Center's Massachusetts Avenue between Mill Street and Pond Lane. The Town has been gathering public input on topics such as: What makes Arlington Center great? What streetscape improvements will make Arlington Center a better place to live, work, and visit? What features need to be improved within the sidewalks and public areas such as Broadway Plaza and the streetscape in front of Town Hall? The next public meeting to present the latest proposals for the redesign of the Center Streetscape will be held on September 22, 2016 at the Senior Center at 7 p.m. Learn more >
Next Steps: Upcoming meetings & community questions
- Future Support Arlington Center public meeting: The Town, Chamber of Commerce, and Support Arlington Center will begin planning for a public meeting to update Center residents on progress in filling the storefronts, and on proposals by residents and community organizers on music, arts and culture, education and other opportunities to help current businesses thrive and keep the Center robust. We will keep you updated on the meeting date and agenda and hope you will be able to make it. Tentative date will be September or October 2016.
- Support Arlington Center community questions: Town Officials are reviewing the 20 questions provided by SAC from the community, and they are working hard to answer them. SAC hopes to have the answers to the questions by sometime in September/October, and some of them are beginning to be answered by this report.
- Mass Ave Streetscape Concept Plan: Mill Street to Pond Lane public meeting: September 22, 2016 at the Senior Center at 7 p.m.
