Anyone able to use a popup space in Davis?

[Christopher Beland]

In case anyone missed it, at our last monthly meeting Ward 6 Councillor Lance Davis let us know the city is actively looking for parties (I'm thinking businesses, non-profits, and individual creators) who could do short-term activations vacant storefronts in Davis Square. We've also heard positive things on the landlord side about willingness to make this happen. That might take the form of a pop-up store or a special art exhibition. The new mayoral administration is apparently making a serious effort to reform the permitting process so this becomes feasible. (I've heard some past efforts failed because it took months longer to get permits for a popup than the popup would be open.)

If you are part of an enterprise that could put a vacant storefront to good short-term use, get in touch with Councillor Davis at lda...@somervillema.gov and also let the DSNC know! It would be interesting to get updates from the popup tenant side, and the DSNC might be able to help overcome any obstacles or publicize events and openings. Feel free to share the word with anyone you think might be interested.

-B.

[Christopher Beland]

I think anything from a shoestring art gallery paying nothing in rent and getting inspection fees waived or a Somerville Arts Council grant to a billion-dollar company doing a full-rent product launch are worth talking about. Copper Mill have a new building application under consideration, and seem to be eager to generate some goodwill with the community. They did a bit of cleanup to their vacant properties on Elm Street within the past week or so and (I see this evening) got rid of most of the graffiti and posters except for the old Family Dollar storefront. Even the cleaned-up ones are still mostly bleh brown paper in windows, though, so something as simple as volunteers coming in and putting up elementary school art would be a noticeable improvement.

Checking back in my meeting notes, OSPCD Director Galligani also mentioned the city was planning to activate Davis with investments in street furniture, stages, lighting, paint, and programming. At other community meetings, neighbors have expressed the desire for more outdoor events and festivals to promote positive uses of our parks. So I'd say ideas that don't even involve a building are also worth bringing up.

-B.

[Emmaline Kenny]

Hi all! I’m a masters of fine arts student at Tufts and primarily focus on welded sculpture. I have broad multi media installation experience and have shown works through the Somerville Arts Council, local galleries like 263, and Tufts affiliated venues like SMFA and Boston University. I even have a show up right now on Tufts campus! (160 saint alphonsus street gallery) I can't attach photos due to file size, but there are lots of photos of my recent work and shows I've participated in on my instagram, @emmaline.v.k

If we go the ‘shoe string art gallery’ direction, I would love to be part of the process! I have a ton of works I could contribute myself, but also general experience organizing and installing shows.

On Wed, Jan 21, 2026 at 1:01 PM Emmaline Kenny <emmaline...@gmail.com> wrote:

Hi all! I’m a masters of fine arts student at Tufts and primarily focus on welded sculpture. I have broad multi media installation experience and have showed works through the Somerville Arts Council, local galleries like 263, and Tufts affiliated venues like SMFA and Boston University. I even have a show up right now on Tufts campus! (160 saint alphonsus street gallery)

If we go the ‘shoe string art gallery’ direction, I would love to be part of the process! I have a ton of works I could contribute myself but also general experience organizing and installing shows. 

Some photos from my latest show!

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[Elaine Almquist]

What a beautiful collection you've created! This is exactly the kind of project I think Davis Square residents would prefer to have in our community, rather than an empty space.

Best,

Elaine

Elaine F. Almquist

(she/her/hers)

BlueSky @EAlmquist  Instagram: @EFAlmquist
Phone: 978.375.2448

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[Abbe Cohen Dvornik]

Just to clarify ,  if the space were filled with public art or a shoestring budget nonprofit are they hoping to get market rate rent or just have the empty storefront look appealing and inviting ?   A popup business is a different proposition than elementary  school art displays...

Abbe 

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[Emmaline Kenny]

Hi all, is there any more information about the space available for a pop up? Location, dates, etc? I'm very interested in helping to fill the space!

[Erika Nesse]

Hi Emmaline,

I sent an email to Lance about some artist friends wanting to use the space and he got back to me saying it was a great idea and linking me on an email to the mayor, the Somerville arts council, and both the developers on Elm Street. I'm a little intimidated and not sure how to proceed! I'd love to help you and my friends see what we can do-- anyone have advice on next steps? 

--Erika

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[Elizabeth Weinbloom]

Has anyone heard more about this vacant storefront arts popups idea?  I wrote to Lance a couple weeks ago as prompted in this email, but haven't heard back.  Are others also involved in this effort?

Thanks,

Liz

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[Hala Jadallah]

Leave him a note on his door.

Hala

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[Erika Nesse]

Hi Elizabeth,

Yes, I'm on an email thread with the city and the developers about getting the popups going. The latest word is that the developers are actively working with the city on this and we should hear more this week. I'll keep you in the loop!

--Erika

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[Mieke Citroen]

I seriously hope that was meant as sarcasm. If it was not, you realize that you are encouraging someone to harass a government official at their house. That is so inappropriate.

--Mieke

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[Erika Nesse]

Just to keep this thread up to date, here's the relevant part of Chris's email (also on this list) on the Copper Mill updates:

Popups and site status:

Copper Mill performed further cleanup on storefronts in the past week, especially the former Family Dollar / McDonald's site.

A pop-up will be opened in the former Family Dollar space; Copper Mill is waiting on city inspectional services to authorize occupancy. They are OK with either a non-profit or a commercial business, but want the city to advise them on the selection process. (They don't want to be responsible for doing the selection.)

Copper Mill are willing to put art in the windows in the remaining vacant space, the former Sligo, but for various physical reasons including lack of ADA compliance it's not suitable for occupation. We referred them to the Somerville Arts Council to do the selection process, since they already have a window display at CVS.

There may be some additional pop-up space on the 2nd floor above The Burren.

Construction timeline is very uncertain due to the need for city and state approval, but pop-ups can expect to have the space until at least November 15, 2026.

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[Lance Davis]

Hi folks. Emails are always a welcome form of communication. At times we get a lot  of them at once (multiple pages of new messages in a matter of hours) and they get missed so please feel free to send a text at the number below if you've sent me something that requested a response and I'll find it and get back to you!

If you are interested in providing content for a pop-up, please reach out to Jesse Moos in the mayor's office (jm...@somervillema.gov), who is the point person for coordinating the effort from the city side. Thanks!

Best,

Lance

Lance Davis (Ward 6)

He/Him/His

857.261.1909

_______________________________

City Council President

School Committee (ex officio)

Legislative Matters

Land Use 

Licenses and Permits

Memorialization Committee

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From: daviss...@googlegroups.com <daviss...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Mieke Citroen <mie...@gmail.com>
Sent: Monday, February 9, 2026 12:26 PM
To: Hala Jadallah <hnjad...@gmail.com>
Cc: Elizabeth Weinbloom <liz.we...@gmail.com>; Christopher Beland <bel...@alum.mit.edu>; Davis Square Neighborhood Council <daviss...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: Re: [DSNC] Anyone able to use a popup space in Davis?

 

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