Inspiration was on tap at MAPC’s February 26th Council Meeting, as speakers celebrated the work that Sustainable Communities Grants made possible and looked to the future. Michelle Ciccolo, MAPC’s Council President, welcomed the large group that packed the hall at the Colonnade Hotel, and Marc Draisen, MAPC’s Executive Director delivered the Executive Director’s Report.
Shirronda Almeida Chandler, the Steering Committee Chair of MetroBoston Sustainable Communities, then took the podium to discuss the enormous contribution of the Sustainable Communities program, and to introduce the “lightening” presenters: five different community leaders who, in partnership with MAPC, have succeeded with five very different Sustainable Communities projects. One by one, the presenters took the audience through a project speed-introduction.
First up was Lynn Duncan, AICP, the Director of Planning and Community Development for the City of Salem sharing the story of the Neighborhood Vision and Action Plan for Salem’s Point Project; Adam Chapdelaine, Arlington Town Manager spoke about the money and energy Arlington saved by group purchasing of LED streetlights, and about the development of the Clean Energy Toolkit; Keith Bergman, Littleton’s Town Administrator, discussed planning for a strong agricultural sector in the MAGIC subregion; Kristina Johnson, Director of Transportation for he City of Quincy, talked about the development of a station area plan for Wollason; and Merdeith Levy, Somerville Community Corporation Deputy Director and Dana DeWinter, Somerville’s Director of Housing, discussed managing neighborhood change in Somerville in anticipation of the extension of the Green Line.
The presentations were followed by remarks by Barbara G. Fields the Regional Administrator of the US department of Housing & Urban Development, Region I, and Arthur Jemison, Deputy Undersecretary for Housing; Department of Housing and Community Development.
Please click here to view presentation slides.
