connect chelsea: three visions for a gateway city

CONNECT CHELSEA: Three Visions for a Gateway City

Cover - (Nguyen)

2 May, 2014

Harvard University Graduate School of Design Urban Planning Core Studio

CONNECT CHELSEA: Three Visions for a Gateway City

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

City of Chelsea

Jay Ash, City Manager

John DePriest, Director of Planning and Development

Albert Ewing, Housing Authority

Matthew Frank, District 3 Councilor

Joe Foti, Director of Public Works

Brian Kyes, Chelsea Police Chief

Luis Prado, Health and Human Services

Ricardo Sanchez, Planning and Development

Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Sal DiDomenico, State Senator Middlesex and Suffolk District

Scott Hamwey, Massachusetts Department of Transportation

Community Liasons

Roseann Bongiovanni, Chelsea Collaborative

Dan Cortez, Massachusetts General Hospital

Rich Cuthie, Chelsea Chamber of Commerce

Melissa Dimond, Massachusetts General Hospital

Kevin Feole, Market Basket

Father Edgar Gutierrez-Duarte, Saint Lukes Episcopal Church

Ann Houston, The Neighborhood Developers

Steve Lampron, Jordan Boys and Girls Club

Emily Loomis, The Neighborhood Developers

Saritin Rizzuto, Chelsea Chamber of Commerce

Kevin Saba, The Development and Marketing Group

Melissa Walsh, The Neighborhood Developers

Sandra Whitley, Peoples AME Church

Special Thanks

Thank you to all the residents, business and property owners, city officials, civic leaders, and interested participants who completed surveys, engaged in interviews, participated in workshops, gave feedback, and supported the project with patience and insight.

Student Project Team

Erica Blonde

Patrick Boateng

Andrew Cantu

Kathryn Casey

Heidi Yongha Cho

Young Ae Chung

Owen Deutsch

Vineet Diwadkar

Irene Figueroa Ortiz

Matthew Furman

Jonathan Goldman

Allison Green

Kevin Gurley

Mark Heller

David Henning

Virginia Keesler

Jacob Koch

Ethan Lassiter

Joyce Lee

Zachery LeMel

Core Faculty

Dan DOca

Ann Forsyth, Program Coordinator

Kathryn Madden

Teaching Assistants

Charles Brennan

Tim Czerwienski

Jennifer Lee

Lydia Scott

Course Input and Reviewers

Baye Adolfo-Wilson

Manisha Bewtra

Renato Castelo

Reese Fayde

Maxine Griffith

Joyce Klein Rosenthal

Helen Lochhead

Richard Peiser

Robert Pietrusko

Eric Shaw

Maynard Len

Joshua Levitt

Yani Li

Jefferson Mao

My Tam Nguyen

Ning Pei

Martha Pym

Jeenal Sawla

Margaret Scott

Jonathan Springfield

Aldarsaikhan Tuvshinbat

Sofa Viguri

Robert Wellburn

Samuel Wright

Suggested Citation

Harvard University, Urban Planning Core Studio. 2014. Connect Chelsea: Three Visions for a Gateway City. Draft Report. Cambridge, MA: Graduate School of Design.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Executive Summary - 1 Introduction - 9 Leveraging Local Strengths - 23

EVERAGING OCAL L

Strategic physical and locational qualities

Robust and diverse economic base

Dive

rse

and a

ordable communitymulti-cultural

cost of living

opportunities

organizations

engaged

entry-level

robust

strongbusiness

to neighbor

gridbuildings

under-used

cities

businesses

for

community

affordableyouth

civic

jobs

food-based

community

connections

walkablehistoric

parks

spacesopen

waterfront freight & industry

business development workshops

HUB Business Incubator

city branding & marketing

compost

Stand for Children workshop

cultural events

Food trucks

public use at Forbes Industrial Park

extend Highland Park to water

seasonal programming of recreational spaces

Greenway along the Silver Line

infill development under route 1

community recreational centers

3 Green Corridors

adaptive reuse of industrial buildings

negative freight signage

freight corridor

Re-gridinglarge industrialparcels

Inclusionary zoning

Expand offerof housing in the study areas

DIF

Affordable Housing Trust

contiguous waterfront walkway

pop-uprecreational events

pop-up markets

Mentor Business program

Digital Onrampsjob training

The Flexible Use Program

TRANSPORTATION

OPEN SPACE & NATURAL SYSTEMS

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

HOUSING BALANCE

URBAN DESIGN

A Network of Neighborhoods - 63 Building for the Workforce - 93 Implementation - 124

Appendix 1 - Citations

Appendix 2 - Scenario References

!((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

0 1,000500 FeetComplete Streets

Neighborhood Center

MYSTI

C SQUARE

5 Min Walk

SPRUCE

STEVERETT AVE

2ND ST

ISLAND

END

ARLINGTO

N COR

NER

Strategy Action Leader Partners/Stakeholders FundingSource Cost(high,medium,low) Timeline(short,medium,longterm)

Assesszoningcode,rewriteifneeded ChelseaPlanningandDevelopmentDepartmentZoningBoardofAppeals,PlanningBoard,

CityManager,CityCouncil Cityoperatingbudget Low Short

Rezone/createnewzones ChelseaPlanningandDevelopmentDepartment CityCounsil,ZoningBoardofAppeals Cityoperatingbudget Low Short

Createnameforoverallnewneighborhood ChelseaPlanningandDevelopmentDepartment

CulturalCouncil,HistoricalCommission,YouthCommission,CityManager,City

Council,businesscommunity,communitymembers

DIF,BID,state/federalfunds,citybudget Low Medium

Createuniqueidentitiesforthesmallernodes ChelseaPlanningandDevelopmentDepartment




Developwayfindingsystemfornewareas ChelseaPlanningandDevelopmentDepartment





Reintroducestreetgrid Workinterdepartmentallytocompletestreetgrid(asperplan)byusingROWorlandacquisitionsChelseaPlanningand

DevelopmentDepartmentPublicWorks,CityAttorneys,City

Manager,propertyowners CityofChelseaCIP Medium/High Medium

UseStationlayout/designtocreatecentralnodeinneighborhoodandenableeasymultimodal

connectionsMBTA MassDOT,CityofChelsea MBTA,MassDot,City,EPASmartGrowthTransportationFunding High Medium

Analyzeexistingbusroutesandidentifypotentialroutechanges MBTA MassDOT,CityofChelsea MBTA,MassDot,City Low Short

ExamineextensionofBostonHubwayBikesharetoChelsea Hubway,MassDOT CityofChelsea Hubway Low Short

Outreachtolocalfreight/industrystakeholdersandpresentDRAFTplanfortruckroutes ChelseaCityManager ChamberofCommerce,Industrygroups n/a Low Short

Finalizetruckroutes ChelseaPlanningandDevelopmentDepartment n/a Low Short

Installsignageandpublicizetimerestrictions,andanyinfrastructuralupgrades ChelseaDPW

Planning,PublicWorks,ChamberofCommerce USDOTTigerDiscretionaryGrants,City Low Short

Enforcetruckroutesandtimerestrictions ChelseaPoliceDepartment Citizenreporting Regularpoliceoperatingbudget Low Short/Medium

Conductreviewoftruckroutes(evaluatecrashdata,outreachtolocalindustrypartners,surveypeopleon

thestreet)

ChelseaPlanningandDevelopmentDepartment ChamberofCommerce,Industrygroups City Low Medium

DeveloppublicparkinggarageChelseaPlanningand

DevelopmentDepartmentandCityManager

Privatesector Privatesector Medium Short

Zoningchangesforparkingrequirementsinfuturedevelopment

ChelseaPlanningandDevelopmentDepartment

andCityCouncilLocabusinesscommunity Citybudget Low Short

Analyzepotentialfordynamicparkingpricingpilotprogram

ChelseaPlanningandDevelopmentDepartment MAPC USDOTUrbanPartnershipProgram,MAPC Low/Medium Medium

Strategy Action Leader Partners/Stakeholders FundingSource Cost(high,medium,low) Timeline(short,medium,longterm)Developandpromotetheinclusionofgreen

infrastructurestrategies(suchasbioswales,curbalternatives,permeablesurfaces,urbantrees,plants,planters,etc.)intostreetdesigntocoordinateandrealizeecologicalandsocialbenefits.Amendzoning

codetoenforcethis.

ChelseaPlanningandDevelopmentDepartment DPW;ZoningBoardofAppeals;MassDOT PARC;LAND Medium/High Medium/Long

Developtargeted'green'streetsandcorridorstoensureandpromotethesafetyofpedestriansand

bicycles


Programstreetsandintersections('plazas')toestablishattractivecorridorsbetweendifferent

neighborhoods


DPW;ZoningBoardofAppeals;MassDOT;CityClerk PARC;LAND;PrivateInvestors Medium/High Medium/Long

Developclearconnectionstowaterfrontnodesusingnewandexistingstreetsandopenspace,and

improvedstreetscapedesigns

ChelseaPlanningandDevelopmentDepartment DPW;ZoningBoardofAppeals;MassDOT PARC;LAND;RiversandHarborsGrant Medium/High Medium/Long

Amendmentzoningcodestoensureindividualplotsincreaseduptakeofachievablewatermanagement

practices,suchasgroundwaterrechargeandrainwaterharvestingstrategies

CityManager;CityCouncil Planning&Development;ZoningBoardofAppeals;Public(PropertyOwners) Low Short

Amendzoningcodestoencourageindividuallandownerstodevelophigherefficiencywater

managementpractices,suchasvegetated(orgreen)walls,roofs,andinfiltratablesurfaces.Consider

financialincentives

CityManager;CityCouncil Planning&Development;ZoningBoardofAppeals;Public(PropertyOwners) CityCouncil Low Short

Provideeachneighborhoodwithaccesstoappropriatelylocatedandwelldesignedparks,

playgrounds,recreationalspaces

ChelseaPlanningandDevelopmentDepartment CommunitySchools;DPW PARK,LAND Medium/High Medium/Long

Giveprioritytotherehabilitationandongoingmaintenanceofexistingparks,playgrounds,and

recreationalfacilitiesDPW CommunitySchools;Planning&Development;CommunityGroups PARC Medium Short

Collaboratewithschoolsandyouthprovisiongroupstoensureaccesstoexistingrecreationalfacilities

ChelseaPlanningandDevelopmentDepartment ChelseaSchoolDistrict,DPW Low Short

Designandprogramrecreationalspacesappropriatelytoensuresafetyanddiscouragecrime

ChelseaPlanningandDevelopmentDepartment CommunitySchools;Police;DPW PARC Low/Medium Short

DevelopSoftInfrastructureNetworkPlan

Increasequantityanddispersementofvegetatedandperviousopenspaces,streetandvegetation

corridors,parkinglots,coastalland,vacantlandparcelsandsetbackstogetherasanintegratedwatermanagementplantocollectivelydirect,catchandrechargestormwaterintothegroundwatersystem.

CityofChelsea

IndividualPropertyOwners/Managers;InfrastructureManagers(ChelseaPW);FederalGovernmentWaterandCoastalManagement(FEMA,USACE)bodies;

LandscapeArchitectureandHydrologicalEngineeringConsultants.

BIDs,DIFsandTaxExemptBondsfordistrictbasedinterventions;MassDev+MassDOTfundingforinfrastructureforeconomicdevt;gatewaycitiesfundingforparkandinfrastructuralprojects;

Massachusettsculturalheritageandhistoricfundingforpreserving"native"landscapes;Brownfields

remediationfunding.

Low Short/Medium

IncorporateSoftInfrastructureSpecifications

Developsoftinfrastructurespecificationsandguidelinesbasedonperformancecriteriaandprovide

alibraryofbesttechnicalpracticesguidelinestoincentivizelandowners/managerstointervenewithin

theirlandparcels.

CityofChelsea

InfrastructureManagers(ChelseaPW);FederalGovernmentWaterandCoastalManagement(FEMA,USACE)bodies;


CityGeneralOperatingFunds Low Short/Medium

ConstructIslandEndRiverPark

DesignateacontinuouswetlandsconservationareatoconnectMaryO'MalleyWaterfrontParkwiththeWesterncoastofIslandEndRivertoaccommodatefloodingandfilterstormwaterrunoffbeforeentering

theMysticRiver.

CityofChelsea;CityofEverett

AdjacentIndustriallandowners;FederalGovernmentWaterandCoastal

Management(FEMA,USACE)bodies;LandscapeArchitectureandHydrological

EngineeringConsultants.

gatewaycitiesfundingforparkandinfrastructuralprojects;Massachusettsculturalheritageandhistoric

fundingforpreserving"native"landscapes;Brownfieldsremediationfunding.

High Long

DesignroadsasveveesPlannewroadandinfrastructureconstructionalongwithterracedlandformingtoanticipatenewfloodingfreeboardelevationsforbuildingconstructionand

otheractivities.

CityofChelsea



BIDs,DIFsandTaxExemptBondsfordistrictbasedinterventions;MassDev+MassDOTfundingforinfrastructureforeconomicdevt;gatewaycitiesfundingforparkandinfrastructuralprojects.

Medium/High Medium/High


Hireaneconomicdevelopmentplannerwhoisresponsibleforapplyingforbrownfieldsassessmentandremediationgrants,aswellasofferingtechnical

assistancetodevelopers


ChelseaChamberofCommerce,MetropolitanAreaPlanningCouncil,local

businesses,propertydevelopers

Citygeneraloperatingfunds(shortterm)andDIFrevenue(longterm) Low Short

Conductanareawideplanningstudytoidentifywherecontaminationexistsandprobable

remediationcosts


EPA,MADepartmentofEnvironmentalProtection,HUD,propertyowners,

propertydevelopers

EPAAssessmentGrantProgram,EPABrownfieldsAreaWidePlanningProgram,CDBG Low Short

EstablishDistrictAreaFinancing(DIF)inWestChelseathatfundsarevolvingdoorfundforbrownfield

remediation

ChelseaCityManager'sOffice

MAExecutiveOfficeofEnergyandEnvironmentalAffairs,MAEconomicAssistanceCoordinatingCouncil,MA

ExecutiveOfficeofHousingandEconomicDevelopment,privatedevelopers

NewbusinesstaxrevenuesfromwithinDIF;initialdevelopmentinDIFsparkedbybrownfieldsgrants

fromMassDEPWasteSiteCleanupProgram,BrownfieldsRedevelopmentFund,BrownfieldsTaxCreditProgram,andotherstate/federalprograms

Medium Medium

ApplyChapter43DexpeditedpermittingprocesstoWestChelseabrownfields


MAExecutiveOfficeofHousingandEconomicDevelopment,private

developersChelseaPlanningandDevelopmentDepartment Low Short

Developcomprehensiveacquisitionplanthatidentifieskeyparcels


Othercitydepartments,CDCs,propertydevelopers Citygeneraloperatingfunds Low Short

Centralizelanddispositionandacquisitionoversightintoamunicipallandbank

ChelseaPlanningandDevelopmentDepartment Citytaxcollectorandattorney'soffices

Citygeneraloperatingfunds(shortterm)andrevenuefromsaleofproperties(longterm) Medium Medium

Promotebusinesseswhichinvestinthecommunity

ExtendtaxincentivestobusinessestolocateorexpandinChelsea

EconomicDevelopmentBoard

ChelseaChamberofCommerce,ChelseaPlanningandDevelopment

TaxIncentivefortheRetentionandExpansionofBusiness(TIRE) Medium Medium

Rehabilitateexistingindustrialfacilitiestobeusedbysmallmanufacturers


ChelseaChamberofCommerce,UrbanManufacturingAlliance,MassMEP

StateEmergingTechnologyFund,StateJobCreationandBuildingInvestmentTaxCredits,Federal

IndustrialRevenueBondProgramLow Medium

Partnerwithlocalschoolsandcommunityorganizationstoestablishanindustrialarts"creativedistrict"centeredonCarterStreetwhichhostsjob

trainingandmanufacturingworkshops


ChelseaArtists'Collaborative,NewEnglandScupltureService,Artisans'Asylum,indpendentmakerspaces;ChelseaHighSchool,BunkerHill

CommunityCollege,BoysandGirlsClub

Citygeneralfundsandbusinesscontributions Low/Medium Long


Instituteinclusionaryzoningpolicy CityCouncil Developers PrivateDevelopers Low Long

LeverageTaxcreditstofinancedevelopment Developers FederalTaxCreditDesignation Low Long

Maximizepublicandprivatefundingsourcesthatsupportsmartgrowth/affordablehousing

TNDandPrivateDevelopers Stateandfederalagencies FederalandStatefundingsources Low Short

Rationalizingzoningpolicies CityCouncil ChelseaPlanningandDevelopmentDepartment Policychange(nofundingrequired) Low Short

Introducehousingincrementallytoavoidsaturatingthehousingmarket CityCouncil

ChelseaPlanningandDevelopmentDepartment Policychange(nofundingrequired) Low Medium

Exerciseeminentdomain CityCouncil ChelseaPlanningandDevelopmentDepartment Policychange(nofundingrequired) Medium/High Medium

Encouragedifferenthousingtypologies

Includespecificlanguageaboutbuildingformsinthezoningcode

ChelseaPlanningandDevelopment

Department/CityCouncilDevelopers Policychange(nofundingrequired) Low Medium

Reviewbrownfieldsitesandchooseprimeresidential

developmentsitesbasedonsitesrequiringleastamount

ofremediation

Seekfundingforphase1ofassessments CityCouncil Developers/Nonprofitdevelopers,theEPA EPA High Variable(dependingonremediation)

Buildingresponsiblyinrelationtofloodmitigation

Setzoningrequirementstoincludefloodmitigationdesign ZoningBoard/CityCouncil Developers Policychange(nofundingrequired) Low Long

UrbanDesign

Transitionscaleofthebuiltenvironment

Newneighborhoodbranding/wayfinding

Strengthenroleofstationwithmultimodal

connections

IdentifyTrucks/FreightRoutes

Transportation

Ensure20%affordableHousing

IncentivizeMarketRateHousingDevelopment

Minimizesurfaceandstreetparking

NaturalSystemsandOpenSpace

Integratenatural/openspacesthroughcreating

greencorridors

Incorporateexistingandnewindividualparcelswithina

multiscalarwatermanagementsystem

Ensureequitableprovisionofsuitablerecreationalandopenspacefacilitiesforall

residents

EconomicDevelopment

Housing

Reducetheextenttowhichbrownfieldsdiscourage

development

Improvemunicipalprocessofpropertyacquisitionand

dispositionforredevelopment

Supportsmallmanufacturing/community

artsspaces































thestreet)












codetoenforcethis.



bicycles



neighborhoods











financialincentives














CityofChelsea





remediationfunding.

Low Short/Medium




theirlandparcels.

CityofChelsea






theMysticRiver.







High Long


otheractivities.

CityofChelsea













remediationcosts



propertydevelopers



remediation






Medium Medium










































ofremediation




UrbanDesign




connections


Transportation






greencorridors




residents

EconomicDevelopment

Housing


development




artsspaces































thestreet)












codetoenforcethis.



bicycles



neighborhoods











financialincentives














CityofChelsea





remediationfunding.

Low Short/Medium




theirlandparcels.

CityofChelsea






theMysticRiver.







High Long


otheractivities.

CityofChelsea













remediationcosts



propertydevelopers



remediation






Medium Medium










































ofremediation




UrbanDesign




connections


Transportation






greencorridors




residents

EconomicDevelopment

Housing


development




artsspaces































thestreet)












codetoenforcethis.



bicycles



neighborhoods











financialincentives














CityofChelsea





remediationfunding.

Low Short/Medium




theirlandparcels.

CityofChelsea






theMysticRiver.







High Long


otheractivities.

CityofChelsea













remediationcosts



propertydevelopers



remediation






Medium Medium










































ofremediation




UrbanDesign




connections


Transportation






greencorridors




residents

EconomicDevelopment

Housing


development




artsspaces































thestreet)












codetoenforcethis.



bicycles



neighborhoods











financialincentives














CityofChelsea





remediationfunding.

Low Short/Medium




theirlandparcels.

CityofChelsea






theMysticRiver.







High Long


otheractivities.

CityofChelsea













remediationcosts



propertydevelopers



remediation






Medium Medium










































ofremediation




UrbanDesign




connections


Transportation






greencorridors




residents

EconomicDevelopment

Housing


development




artsspaces































thestreet)












codetoenforcethis.



bicycles



neighborhoods











financialincentives














CityofChelsea





remediationfunding.

Low Short/Medium




theirlandparcels.

CityofChelsea






theMysticRiver.







High Long


otheractivities.

CityofChelsea













remediationcosts



propertydevelopers



remediation






Medium Medium










































ofremediation




UrbanDesign




connections


Transportation






greencorridors




residents

EconomicDevelopment

Housing


development




artsspaces

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Executive Summary - 1

Chelsea has seen spectacular growth recently, as new hotels, residences and offices have sprung up throughout the city. Now, with the announcement of the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority (MBTA) Silver Line extension linking Chelsea to downtown Boston, the future looks ever more promising. Most notably, the western part of Chelsea around the proposed station offers great development opportunities in the coming years. However, while this crucial area can be a major asset for the city, the specific uses for it are still largely undefined.

Connect Chelsea: Three Vi

connect chelsea: three visions for a gateway city

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