Medford SquareReconnection, and the revitalization, Mystic redevelopment River City of Medford, Massachusetts Massachusetts Institute of Technology Department of Urban Studies and Planning Community Growth and Land Use Planning | Fall 2006 Medford Square and the Mystic River Reconnection, revitalization, redevelopment City of Medford, Massachusetts Massachusetts Institute of Technology Department of Urban Studies and Planning Community Growth and Land Use Planning | Fall 2006 Table of Contents Acknowledgements i Executive Summary 1 Mystic River Greenway 3 Transportation and Streetscape 21 Redevelopment Proposals 39 Appendices Attached Separately MIT-Medford Acknowledgements Credits Don Oulette Instructors Students We thank the individuals listed below for Medford Engineering Department their input and contributions. However, Professors: Greenway: the MIT students and instructors directly Charles Passanisi Valerie Gingrich involved in the workshop assume full Deputy Director of Capital Budget, Eran Ben-Joseph Helen Lee responsibility for the content of this report Massachusetts Bay Transportation Associate Professor of Molly Markarian and any errors therein. Authority Landscape Architecture and Planning Daniel McGill Simone Auster Scott Peterson Mathias Rosenfeld President, Emerald Necklace Conservancy Manager of Transportation Systems Terry S. Szold Kate Van Tassel Analysis Group, Central Transportation Adjunct Associate Professor of Lauren DiLorenzo Planning Staff Land Use Planning Transportation: Planning Director, City of Medford Justin Antos Barbara Rubel Teaching assistant: Zhiyu Chen Dan Driscoll Director of Community Relations, Tufts David Lee Planner, Department of Conservation & University Thomas Oles Francesca Napolitan Recreation Karl Seidman Redevelopment: Ryan Hayworth Senior Lecturer, MIT Joshua DeFlorio Medford Historical Society Nand Sharma Ari Goldstein Angela Meehan Brian Kerins Transportation Systems Analysis Group, Phillippe Morgan de Rivery Deputy Director, City of Medford Central Transportation Planning Staff Nakeischea Smith Department of Public Works Clodagh Stoker-Long Mayor Michael McGlynn Planner, City of Medford Mayor of Medford John Tourtelotte Nat Norton Berkshire Development VHB Engineers, Watertown Cheryl White Julie O’Brien Executive Director, Medford Chamber of Director of Planning, Department of Commerce Conservation & Recreation i MIT-Medford Executive Summary The MIT team looked at strategic areas in downtown Medford strive to address the Medford Square and along the Mystic River. following goals: connect neighborhoods Both local and regional in scope, this report to the Square, enable access to the recommends ways in which Medford can Mystic River, improve the pedestrian revitalize its great assets. environment, and reorient the road network to local use. The following areas Mystic River Greenway were selected as key intervention points With the many waterfront assets found for the City of Medford as they represent in Medford, a regional greenway system existing transportation infrastructure with would draw Medford residents and the biggest problems but also the highest visitors to and along the river, attracted potential for improvement: Clippership by new connectivity and activities. The Drive, the area around Main Street at Mystic River Greenway will run from Route 16 or the “South Gateway” and the the Alewife Brook Greenway to Station area near the rotary and Salem Street or Landing/Wellington Station. The proposed the “Northeast Gateway”. For each of path runs through land owned by the City these sites specific recommendations are of Medford and the MA Department of provided that address the road network Conservation and Recreation (DCR); as and streetscape to ensure a effective such, the City will have to further cultivate pedestrian and vehicle environment, and a strong working relationship with DCR. offer design elements which can improve The greenway provides an opportunity to the image of Medford and highlight its improve the ecological health of the river, history. create opportunities for passive and active recreation along its banks, and to involve Redevelopment residents, businesses and institutions in Currently the City of Medford owns shaping the greenway. To facilitate these three parcels on the eastern edge of the Square that are ripe with development outcomes, the City should initiate the The proposed interventions for Medford Square and Clippership Drive formation of the Mystic River Greenway potential. With an established zoning Committee to catalyze the formation of a overlay district, these parcels will create opportunities for a viable and progressive expected. The implementation of a Medford public-private partnership. new opportunities to retain the original future. Development scenarios and a “Main Streets” program will strengthen character while enhancing the retail and model RFP will serve as a guide for the City existing businesses and attract new Transportation and Streetscape economic climate. Development fostered in attracting developers to these parcels investment to the Square, linking together Several recommended key transportation within the Square will honor and respects and providing information on the amount physical and economic development. and street design interventions in the City’s historic past, while forging of revenue and public benefit that can be MIT-Medford 1 Mystic River Greenway Introduction The riverfront open space group was tasked Goals with developing a plan to capitalize on • Connect transit nodes, residential the assets of the Mystic River in Medford. neighborhoods, recreational amenities, While a number of prior reports have and business districts to the river. suggested ways to improve the Mystic • Create a vibrant mix of uses and activities River, this report synthesizes previous along the river. ideas into a practical solution: a regional • Engage residents, businesses, and Mystic River Greenway. institutions in shaping and building the greenway. The Mystic River Greenway, complete • Convey a unique identity that reflects with a continuous multi-use path, will the local character, the history, and the meet transportation and recreational needs environment. of local residents, visitors, and regional • Restore and maintain the river’s ecological commuters alike. The greenway will also integrity as a regional resource. create opportunities to restore the river to a healthier state and encourage both Objectives active and passive recreational uses such • Establish high priority links to the river. as biking, walking, picnicking, canoeing, • Locate priority sites for views, uses and relaxation and enjoyment of views. river access along the Mystic. Creating a vibrant greenway will be nearly • Identify models for community impossible without joint collaboration partnership and non-profit collaboration. of citizens, the City of Medford, and • Improve signage related to way-finding, the Commonwealth’s Department of history, and environmental stewardship. Conservation and Recreation (DCR). The • Select opportunities for improving water City should take an active role in facilitating quality, creating wildlife habitat, and Recommendations • Form a Medford Greenway Committee diversifying the landscape this collaborative effort. • Collaborate with DCR on Mystic River to: Master Plan planning process. • Ensure local participation in the master While the Mystic River currently lacks the • Cultivate a productive working plan process. allure to draw people to the waterfront, the relationship with DCR. • Investigate funding sources. recommendations outlined in this section • Develop a public-private partnership are designed to address this challenge by organization. establishing a unique identity and amenities for the Mystic River. Mystic River Waterfront: MIT-Medford 3 Connections Medford Square Commercial Zone Alewife Tufts Brook Minuteman Path Re-establishing physical, psychological, and social connections is an overarching goal of the Mystic River Greenway. The Greenway would physically reconnect businesses, transportation hubs, and neighborhoods, psychologically reconnect residents to nature, and socially reconnect the City of Medford, community groups, DCR, and other institutions. Planning with DCR As the map at right indicates, DCR controls a majority of land along the Mystic River. Therefore, it is important that the City cultivate and strengthen its relationship with DCR in order to implement the suggestions made in this report. Auburn Street to Winthrop Street Auburn Street to Cradock Bridge Cradock Bridge to I-93 Currently, DCR is creating a Mystic River This grassy area is an underutilized Improved circulation, stronger visual Clippership Park will extend the civic life Master Plan with the first phase to be recreational asset that connects adjacent connections to the river, and a steady of the Square to the river. A DCR easement completed by June 2007. This provides neighborhoods as well as an ecologically increase of public uses will integrate the along the senior housing properties enables an immediate opportunity for the City to rich western gateway to the greenway that Greenway and Medford Square into a the path to continue towards I-93, with a work with DCR and advocate for desired can draw people toward Medford Square. unified, multi-use community asset. bike lane along Riverside Avenue serving changes along the greenway. as a short term connection. 4 Mystic River Waterfront: MIT-Medford Connections The Mystic River