‘POP-UP PLAZA' COMING TO DAVIS SQUARE 9/9-9/11

‘POP-UP PLAZA’ BRINGS TACTICAL URBANISM TO SOMERVILLE BY DESIGN: DAVIS SQUARE

SOMERVILLE – Can food trucks, artist-made street furniture

and street performers help design the future of Davis Square’s urban landscape?

They will in Somerville at the Somerville by Design “Pop-Up Plaza” community

planning event, a City of Somerville initiative that will sprout from a parking

lot starting Monday, Sept. 9, in Davis Square.

The Pop-Up Plaza will set up shop for three full days,

Sept.9 through Sept. 11, in the Cutter Square parking lot (the small triangular

parking lot opposite Rosebud Diner on Elm St. in Davis Square) with moveable street

furniture, improvised landscaping, food trucks, public art, fabrication

demonstrations, and street performers. This temporary public plaza will

complement the temporary indoor public design studio in the vacant storefront

just across the way at 377 Summer St., where City staff and a team of design

consultants will be hosting a variety of day and evening events during a

three-day public charrette (a collaborative design event).

Temporary public space projects like this Pop-Up Plaza are

an example of “tactical urbanism,” an approach to urban planning and design

that uses low-cost, grassroots-oriented initiatives as a way to test ideas and

incorporate public input for larger projects. Pop-Up Plaza installations have

been used successfully in cities across the country, bringing attention to

locations that are often taken for granted. These projects also allow planners

and advocates to observe how people use public spaces and the features that can

create safe, cost-effective parks, plazas and streetscapes. In short, they mix

fun and culture with a community purpose.

“Somerville by Design makes planning fun and this is another

example of using creative ways to involve the community in crafting our vision

for Davis Square and the whole city,” Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone said. “We make

every effort to engage residents in the planning process via public meetings

and the usual outreach. Now with this event, if you want to participate, all

you have to do is show up at the Pop-Up Plaza and enjoy the fun.”

“Participating in the design of Davis Square’s urban

landscape has never been easier or more enjoyable for people of all ages,” Ward

6 Alderman Rebekah Gewirtz said. “With so much foot traffic already in our

vibrant neighborhood, the Pop-Up Plaza is a unique way to examine how public

spaces in Davis Square can meet the needs of our residents. I hope everyone

stops in to enjoy this fun event and participate in the design studio by

lending their imaginations.”

The Davis Square Pop-Up Plaza will be open to the public:

·       

9 a.m.-8 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 9

·       

9 a.m.-8 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 10

·       

9 a.m.-6 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 11  

A full list of participating vendors, demonstrations and

performances is available at www.somervillebydesign.com,

and the following food trucks will be on site:

·       

Tenoch Mexican (Mon.-Wed.,

All Day)

·       

Roxy's

Gourmet Grilled Cheese (Mon., 4

p.m.-9 p.m.)

·       

Mei Mei

Street Kitchen (Tues., 5 p.m.-9

p.m.; Wed., 5 p.m.-9 p.m.)

·       

Kick*ss

Cup Cakes (Mon. 11 a.m.-3 p.m.;

Wed. 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

For

more information please visit www.somervillebydesign.com

or call the Mayor’s Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development at

617-625-6600 ext. 2500.

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