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.