Good morning, Medford, Monday, May 18
Happy Monday, Medford. Residents are concerned about the rezoning and development in the Boston Avenue corridor. Here's what they are saying, and here is a list of meetings that will have this issue on the agenda.
We're starting off this Monday morning with a did-you-know and then jumping right into an important public hearing coming up regarding zoning and development of the Boston Avenue corridor.
Did you know Medford produced an NEA jazz master, Doris Duke Artist, and four-time Grammy award-winning drummer, composer, producer, and educator? That would be Terri Lyne Carrington. Carrington is the artistic director of the Berklee Institute of Jazz and Gender Justice and has also written two books.
We bring it up today because she received an honorary degree "in recognition of her extraordinary music career" from Tufts yesterday during the university's commencement. She recently released an album titled "We Insist 2025!", which is a re-imagining of Max Roach's "Freedom Now Suite" that featured Abbey Lincoln. The bio on her website says, "It both honors Roach’s original masterpiece and furthers Carrington’s passion for using jazz as a tool for social activism."
Now, let's talk about rezoning.
A Medford resident reached out to us about the rezoning and development in the Boston Avenue corridor and raised concerns about the size (up to 10 stories) and scope of development, with one project including 660 beds and a proposed second one having another 600.
"A project of this magnitude will have significant impact on the entire Hillside and West Medford communities," the resident said.
In addition, the resident expressed concern about these buildings being constructed as "private student housing."
During the May 13 joint meeting of the City Council and the Community Development Board, David Roache of City Lights Development proposed adding "private student housing" to the table of uses. He argued that building hundreds of beds of private student housing would open up other housing to families.
However, during that meeting, one Medford resident who lives in that area said, "What is being built on Boston Avenue right now does not meet the definition of a dorm. It is not owned by the university and will not be operated by the university." He added that residents raised that issue early on in the process.
Another resident said, "The idea of having an alley of 10-story dorm buildings is horrific." And, she suggested that the area have more diversity in the size of the residential buildings, rather than having 10-story dorms next to 3-story houses.
There is going to be a public hearing on the rezoning on June 3. Before that, however, there are other meetings at which the zoning will be discussed: Community Development Board meeting on May 20; Joint meeting of City Council and Community Development Board on May 27; public information session on June 1.
Happening today in Medford
If you have an event coming up that you would like to have added to the calendar, send the information to gottaknowmedford@gmail.com.
Senior Center Activities: Dominoes/cribbage at 10 a.m.; Gentle Yoga with Rosa at 10 a.m.; Al-Anon support group at 10:30 a.m.; Chair Yoga with Rosa at 11 a.m.; whist for all levels at 12:30 p.m.; country line dancing at 12:45 p.m.; chair volleyball at 2 p.m.
Go Mustangs! Home games today for: middle school boys and girls track and field outdoor teams; JV boys volleyball and baseball; JV girls lacrosse; varsity girls tennis, lacrosse and softball; varsity boys lacrosse and volleyball.
Library Board of Trustees meeting at 9:30 a.m. at the library and via Zoom. On the agenda: discussion and presentation to city councilors, the director's report, coffee cart closure, and future meeting dates.
Sisters-in-Sweat Exercise Group at 9:30 a.m. at West Medford Community Center. Walking and other self-led, low impact activities.
Circle time Story Time at 9:30 a.m. at Medford Public Library. Hosted by Medford Family Network. For children up to 2 years old. Registration Required.
Drop-In Play Time from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Medford Family Network Family Center.
Chair and Standing Yoga at 11 a.m. at Medford Public Library.
Circle time Story Time at 11 a.m. at Medford Public Library. Hosted by Medford Family Network. For children up 2-5 years old. Registration Required.
Phenakistoscopes at 3:30 p.m. at Medford Public Library for kids ages 8-12 to make a phenakistoscope (a spinning wheel that when viewed from a mirror looks like the pictures are moving). Register.
2nd/3rd Grade Book Club at 3:30 p.m. at Medford Public Library. This month's book is "Growing Home," by Beth Ferry. Registration required.
Family Craft Night: Needle Felted Panda Hoops from 6 to 8 p.m. at Medford Public Library for kids ages 8+ and their grownups. Supplies will be provided. Registration is required.
MakerSpace Drop-In from 6 to 8 p.m. at Medford Public Library. For adults and teens 16+.
School Committee meeting at 6 p.m. at City Hall and via Zoom. Agenda includes: a consent agenda for approval of bills, payrolls, budget transfers, an FY 2026 stabilization, and field trips; reports of subcommittees; Mustang Moment; recommendation by Dr. Galusi to approve Medford as a "no school choice" district; recommendation to approve updated language for MPS restraint policy and Bullying Prevention and Intervention Plan; presentations of the Student Advisory Council; a request for the superintendent and administration to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the Medford Public Schools’ Project Transition Program.
Teen Card Game Night from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Medford Public Library for teens in middle school and high school. Registration required.
Sip n Script from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Great American Beer Hall. Event is described as a "modern calligraphy class with beer."
Organize Your Gmail at 7 p.m. at Medford Public Library. Learn practical tips and tricks to declutter, prioritize, and efficiently manage your emails.
"Banning Books in America: Not a How-To," with editor Samuel Cohen at 7 p.m. via Zoom. Sponsored by Medford Public Library. The book is about banned books in the U.S. – about reading them, teaching them, and lending them under the shadow of political pressure not to. Register for the Zoom.
Friends of the Medford Public Library Board meeting from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the library.
Adult Ed Book Club meets at 7:30 p.m. at Temple Shalom Medford. The group will discuss "The Wandering Jew," by Micah Goodman. RSVP to Deb Varat to be added to the email list: d.varat@snhu.edu.
Mystic Valley Branch of the NAACP meets at 7:30 p.m. via Zoom.
In case you missed it
Nate in the Heights tells Paul Revere what it's like for us to have all three of our major spring-time teams go down in a heap of flames.
Special to Gotta Know Medford
