Medford mayor seeks to revamp lackluster city center

Medford Mayor Michael McGlynn will begin his proposal to revitalize Medford Square next week when he appoints a permanent committee of citizens, business owners and officials for the Medford Vision Project.

The committee will research and establish a master plan detailing a feasible, cost-effective urban design that will draw business to the square. The committee will work with Boston's Cecil Group, which is providing planning assistance for the project.

"I don't think Medford Square attracts a lot of people," said Lauren DiLorenzo, Director of Medford's Office of Community Development. "A lot of people who live in Medford don't ever come to Medford Square. We're hoping to change that -- we want to turn it into a destination place."

Turning Medford into an attractive destination will require the long-term process of "completing [the] overall master plan, seeking the funding, then developing specific concepts [for the square]," said DiLorenzo.

A group of about 200 residents volunteered to create the "Medford Square Vision," a list of recommendations released early last month. Major priorities, as outlined by the task force, included developing business, endorsing the city's historic resources, cultural opportunities and civic life, creating greater open space, easing traffic congestion, increasing parking, developing the Mystic riverfront and improving the square's image and aesthetics.

"The square can start serving citizens again, not just with consumer services like hair cuts and insurance agents, but also retail services -- places to shop, places to eat and places to live," DiLorenzo said. For Tufts students, she said the square "can also be used as a recreational resource -- they can come to a restaurant or a bookstore down by the [Mystic River]."

Concrete steps toward an economic and cultural revival of Medford Square began three months ago, when the city received a $30,000 Massachusetts grant to study the square. McGlynn said the city could secure the funding necessary to pursue the project's aims despite recent declines in tax revenue and state funds. McGlynn is seeking an initial $150,000 for a master plan and transportation studies.

McGlynn said "It's safe to say it'll cost millions." He added the city could apply for additional private funding.

Manager of the Bestsellers Caf‚ bookstore in Medford Square Rob Dilman thought the vision put forth at the two community meetings he attended was "pretty ambitious." He said redevelopment will hopefully increase retail and bring "more commerce" to the city center. "Since we opened six and a half years ago, I've been able to get a sense of what the citizens think. They're concerned about traffic congestion, and concerned about increasing the diversity of businesses," he said.

Dilman said there is a lack of a "Tufts connection" to Medford Square businesses. "Without increasing the number of retail stores or restaurants or caf‚s, I don't think there would be much reason for Tufts students to come here. If I had a choice between Davis Square in Somerville where there's so much going on and Medford Square, I would choose Davis," Dilman said.

"I have no need to go [to Medford Square]," said senior Amanda Paolitto, a Cambridge resident. "I don't know what they have to offer -- that's the problem. I know that they have food over there, but I don't even know how much of it is student-friendly."

Other students said businesses are not the cause of Medford Square's lack of appeal. "[Medford Square] actually seems fairly nice to me already -- sort of historic, nice buildings, a good mix of businesses. What Medford Square needs is a diverse crowd," senior Ben Eskenazi said.

"Students and city-goers see the place as a hangout for 'townies' and would not want to mix with that crowd. Without a T stop, the square is never going to draw the diversity it needs to attract serious, significant investment. At best, it will always just be a cool place for locals to hang out."

Mayor McGlynn, who began his ninth term in office in January, said the redevelopment initiative was not new.

"Years ago, I made plans to revitalize the square, [but] there was no appetite or support 13 years ago. It was a time when the economy was not hot, and people had other priorities." McGlynn said. "In such a hurried world, the quality of life in an American community means a lot, and what people are saying now is that they want to raise the quality of life."

The mayor said his long tenure and the success of previous projects have given him the public backing to seek a long-term and potentially very expensive project. The town recently completed the New Schools Project, which rebuilt or renovated Medford's 13 schools.

"People don't believe it until it's done. When we announced the Medford schools project, they said 'They'll never build those schools.' When we started putting bricks down, they said, 'They'll never build those schools.' Now, a lot of people have that energy because they know [these things] can be done."

McGlynn said the realization of the ideal Medford Square was "not going to happen overnight [but] by using the energy and enthusiasm of the citizens and by listening to ideas," the vision can eventually be implemented.