Union Square CBA Conversation at VOX POP August 23, 2019 | Rene Mardones Somerville Community Corporation, Union United, and Somerville Media Center will be hosting a community conversation about the new Union Square Community Benefits Agreement at VOX POP in Assembly Row from 6pm to 7:30pm on Monday, August 26th, 2019. The location is at 431 Artisan Way, Somerville, next to Pretzelmaker. VOX POP is a summer pop-up… Read More
Join Us for the Community Presentation of the Union Square CBA August 22, 2019 | Rene Mardones As of August 2019, the CBA is nearing completion! US2, the master developer for the Union Square redevelopment project, has sent a letter of approval listing the agreement terms between US2 and the Union Square Neighborhood Council (USNC) negotiating team. The next step is for the general membership of the USNC to vote for the… Read More
Union United holds action at US2 offices May 15, 2017 | Jeff Warren There is no denying that development, speculation and rising costs are pushing people out of Union Square and that’s not right! Union United has been fighting for a Community Benefits Agreement to help stop displacement, give the community a real voice, and ensure that developers like US2 reinvest their profits back into the neighborhood. US2… Read More
Join us at the CBA Summit on 2/25! January 27, 2017 | Jeff Warren Please join Union United to help decide what to ask the developers for in the Community Benefits Agreement in Union Sq. When: Sat. 2/25 10am-1pm Where: CAAS Headstart – Allen St. Development, speculation and raising costs are pushing people and small businesses out of Union Sq. and that’s not right! For two years, Union United… Read More
Video: Preventing displacement with a Community Benefits Agreement September 20, 2016 | Jeff Warren Hope you are having a good start to the week! One of our members, Alex Ezorsky, created a short animated video that explains why we need a community benefits agreement in Union Square. It’s pretty awesome and hopefully it will help educate our friends and neighbors about Union United. Check it out on our Facebook… Read More
Union Square Plan Forum Announced by City of Somerville January 27, 2016 | Jeff Warren On February 4, the city will be hosting a Union Square Neighborhood Plan meeting at 6:00pm at Argenziano School. Union United is working to reschedule our regular coalition meeting (stay tuned!), but we will still gather together at 5:30pm at St. Joseph’s church on Thursday, February 4 for a quick huddle before walking the few… Read More
There are two competing visions for Union Square January 20, 2016 | Karen Narefsky There are two competing visions for Union Square. On the one hand, there is a passionate and mobilized community calling for development without displacement and for community-led negotiations with US2. On the other hand, the LOCUS process does not support community members negotiating with the developer, leaving everything in the hands of the SRA. Last… Read More
Union United hosts Roundtable on Community Involvement January 15, 2016 | Jeff Warren What is the community’s role in shaping development? To help answer this question, we hosted a discussion on ways to ensure that we have a real voice in the outcome of the future of our neighborhood. John Goldstein, a national expert in community benefits agreements, discussed his experiences with CBAs involving community coalitions, developers, and… Read More
Union United Shows Strength in Numbers March 19, 2015 | Mashael Majid | Leave a comment With a crowd of over 45 members and supporters, Union United held a rally and press conference on March 11th to say loud and clear: this community deserves better! We heard from Union Square business owners Angelica Benatti and Pokye Casserly and local youth Bukhari Brown on the importance of addressing community needs and having development… Read More
Past, Present, and Future of Union Square: A Community Walk October 23, 2014 | Union United | Leave a comment On October 19, more than 50 people attended Union United’s Community Walk to learn about the history of activism in Union Square, share stories of displacement, find out about the current redevelopment process and Union United’s community benefits agreement, and socialize with one another. With community priorities reflected at each of our stops, Union United… Read More