We have a lot to catch up on...

Here we go:

1) There was a discussion about the Somerville 48 hour parking rule on yelp (started by a Winter Hill neighbor):
http://www.yelp.com/topic/boston-somerville-48-hour-parking-rule-with-residential-permit

2) Danielle Dreilinger wrote about 'More cyclists are hitting the road in Somerville', noting that:"Bike use was notably low in Winter Hill and Assembly Square. Joggers, meanwhile, love the Community Path, and more people jog after work than before.":
http://www.boston.com/yourtown/news/somerville/2011/10/more_cyclists_are_hitting_the.html

3) Mitch is trying to rent out an off-street parking spot in Winter Hill:
http://boston.craigslist.org/gbs/prk/2632684906.html

4) The Bicycling New Historic Somerville brochure is online with Winter Hill hotspots (sorry I missed the actual event way back in May):
http://www.somervillema.gov/sites/default/files/2011-FinalBrochure.pdf

5) This is cool. Mose Berkowitz-Urban Appreciator takes a stroll through Winter Hill:
http://moseberkowitz.com/blog/somerville-survey-winter-hill–-working-class-roots-uncovered-in-modern-times

6) Vegetarians in Winter Hill looking for a roomate (well, I'm assuming they are also vegetarian; otherwise it would just be weird:
$500 Nov. 1: Two Professionals Seek Vegetarian, Male Roommate (Winter Hill, Somerville)

7) A Winter Hill Resident expresses their thoughts about the Green Line Extension:
http://www.wickedlocal.com/somerville/news/x463307693/Letter-Green-Line-Extension-reason-for-moving-to-Somerville

Ok, we'll leave it at that for now. There are two other items that we should be discussing in the near future:

1) The race for Ward 4 Alderman on Tuesday Nov. 8th. If you would like to get to know some of the players, check out:

http://www.tonylafuente.com/

http://christinebarber4somerville.com/

and, this is the big one:

2) Somerville's First Foodie Crawl is Oct. 25, 6-9:30pm! Get your tickets in advance; this will undoubtedly be a good time.

More parking hubub.: The Flowchart

This is from Davis Square Livejournal, but I guess it applies to our part of town too:

From cinnatusc's photostream:

Aye carumba: Somerville to implement new parking meter hours, costs starting Monday

By Auditi Guha from Wicked Local Somerville:

Somerville —

Like it or not, folks will soon have to chip in four quarters for an hour’s worth of parking at meters across Somerville. Meters will also run an extra two hours until 8 p.m.

Business owners are not happy and believe these increases will hurt their businesses.

Read more...

From guido z's photostream:



From passiveaggressiven otes' photostream:



From Jon Chambers' photostream:

From satanslaundromat's photostream:



From nsfmc's photostream:

Parking meter rates and hours to increase, permit parking to expand citywide

Major upcoming changes in citywide parking are getting a lot of attention:

Start saving: Parking meter rates and hours to increase, permit parking to expand citywide

By Auditi Guha

Wicked Local Somerville

Posted May 28, 2009 @ 05:51 PM

"The plan is to create new parking meter zones in Davis and Magoun squares’ municipal parking lots in the spaces reserved for business permit parking, and have the meters run 5-8 p.m. Monday to Friday and 8 a.m.-10 p.m. on Saturday.

Loading zones in Davis Square will also be metered Monday to Friday, 5-10 p.m. and Saturday, 8 a.m.-10 p.m.

In addition, the city plans to implement citywide residential parking including the currently 162 permit-free streets."

Read the entire article, plus Q&A with City spokesperson Tom Champion.


Davis Square Meters

Photo from Walsh's flickr photostream.

Yep, another snow emergency.

Entry tags:

local government, parking, snow emergency

Snow Emergency Effective Midnight Tues/Wed. - No School Wed.
In accordance with the City’s Snow Emergency Procedures, Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone has declared a snow emergency for the City of Somerville to go into effect at midnight., Wednesday, January 28th.   During snow emergencies, parking is allowed on the odd-numbered side of the street only (unless otherwise posted).  Cars not moved by 4 a.m. Wednesday morning will be subject to ticketing and towing.  Beginning at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, January 27th, residents unable to find a parking space on the odd-numbered side of the street may park in any municipal or school parking lot for the duration of the emergency.  A list of available city lots and other relevant information may be found on the City’s website at www.somervillema.gov.

Photo: Tree with snow, Somerville, MA, Cedar St, Winter 2002 by cfdls.

The Somerville Public Schools will be closed on Wednesday.

Residents who have not already done so may visit the City’s website, www.somervillema.gov, to view snow emergency procedures, download the snow procedures brochure or sign up for Connect CTY telephone and email alerts and other time sensitive messages from the City.  Residents may also sign up for Connect CTY calls and email by calling 311.  

In addition, flashing blue lights installed at 22 key intersections and entryways to the City will be activated immediately after the declaration of a snow emergency, and remain lit for the duration of the snow emergency.  As in years past, prerecorded information is also available on the city’s Information Hotline, 617-628-SNOW. 

City of Somerville 2008 Resident Report

The City of Somerville 2008 Resident Report was published this month.
Here are some chunks about Winter Hill from this factoid filled document:

Bring us some green line super-extension:
"Broadway on Winter Hill and Mystic Ave at Temple Road were busy commercial centers, with many small mom-and-pop stores providing for most shopping needs within a short walking distance of homes. Now, however, without streetcars or accessible subway stops, Ward 4 residents rely more on cars for travel than any other ward."

Related to this:
"With the opening of a Green Line stop in Gilman Square and an Orange Line stop in Assembly Square, all Ward 4 residents will live less than a mile from a T stop and a majority will live less than half a mile from a T stop."

Maybe this explains my perceived recent increase in parking tickets on cars in the morning:
"Ward 4 has very few parking restrictions, including metered parking spots or streets with resident-only parking. This means that there are fewer parking control officers assigned to patrol Ward 4. This may account for the increased complaints of commercial vehicle parking, since violators may know that this ward is monitored less often than other wards. Both Ten Hills and Winter Hill East residents requested increased enforcement of overnight commercial parking in their neighborhoods."

Winter Hill Main Streets?
"Some Progress Planned for FY09 Initiate "Winter Hill Main Streets" Update 5/9/08: The area is not eligible for federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) so there is no existing funding available to establish an official Main Streets group. However, the Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development (OSPCD) will carry out a study of all major business districts, including Winter Hill, to determine what kind of businesses will succeed in the area and to market the area to prospective businesses."

The CDBG mentioned looks useful. It would be good to know if there is a related mechanism that WH is eligible for.

And the gratuitous Foss Park post:
"Negotiate with the State for City management of Foss Park and Veterans Memorial Ice Rink. Update 5/19/08: The City would like to assume management responsibilities of these facilities, but only after the State has made initial capital investments."

sweet.