Arts at the Armory - Support Needed for March 4 Zoning Board of Appeals Meeting

[fefie.livejournal.com]

Arts at the Armory is seeking changes to its existing Special Permit to allow daytime use of the building for its programs and special events in the performance hall and the cafe - including concurrent events. The meeting will be held on Wednesday, March 4 at 6 PM in the Aldermanic Chambers, 2nd Floor of Somerville City Hall located at 93 Highland Avenue.

If the Zoning Board of Appeals grants our request, it would allow us to host matinee performances for theater, dance and music as well as offer open studios, lectures, conferences and other events of community interest in the performance hall and cafe.

Your support is needed at this meeting! If you cannot attend, please send an e-mail of support to the Zoning Board of Appeals in care of Madeleine Masters at mmasters@somervillema.gov.

Questions?
Contact Debra McLaughlin or Susan Fiedler at 617.718.2191 or email us at info@artsatthearmory.org

Comments

Re: It's not the request itself, it's the attitude that people oppose...

[fefie.livejournal.com]

"but before the place has even officially opened, they are saying that they want to blow off their agreement from the mediation process and just do whatever the hell they want, because they know they can get away with it."

It's true that someone described the process that way at the meeting last night. But as someone who has also been involved in this process since the start and a neighbor of the Armory, I don't see it that way. There have been a handful of folks (some in the neighborhood, some not) who have been against the project from the start and have used any means necessary to obstruct the progress. While there are legitimate issues that need watchful attention (parking, noise, etc.) these folks feel the Armory has a hidden agenda to evolve into a nightclub, thus they operate from that point of view at every step of the way.

As I see it, the "blowing off" as you described it, is a matter of Arts at the Armory attempting to be flexible in the evolving face of reality setting in for the building's viability. As you saw at the meeting last night, there are some abutters who are very concerned but offered suggestions of how to slowly integrate the daytime use of the performance hall (for Actors Shakespeare Project matinees, Somerville Open Studios etc.).

Incidentally, the Armory is gorgeous inside! They've done a tremendous job renovating the place. The performance hall is a real jewel and will be a tremendous asset to the community once the dust settles....

Re: It's not the request itself, it's the attitude that people oppose...

[pierceheart.livejournal.com]

If they've already given the go-ahead to the Shakespeare group about doing matinees, such that, if the ZBA doesn't allow it, the ZBA is screwing the ASP, then that sounds like bad faith with the neighbors.

Re: It's not the request itself, it's the attitude that people oppose...

[icecreamempress.livejournal.com]

It's bad faith with the neighbors and bad faith with the Zoning Board.

At best, it's horribly shoddy mismanagement. Unless there was some misrepresentation by the Zoning Board, the Arts at the Armory people need to fix their own mistakes without roping random Somervillians into manufactured "emergencies".

Re: It's not the request itself, it's the attitude that people oppose...

[turil.livejournal.com]

Having talked to several of the community members about this, it really is the attitude that they are bothered by, not the specific requests. It seems as if the Community center is starting out being sort of anti-community. How about asking the community what it wants, rather than telling the community what the Armory wants? And how about respecting people who have concerns rather than being defensive or dismissive of them?

I was completely supportive of the whole project, and used to live right behind the place, but after hearing the response that was given to the few people who had some concerns about the changes to the agreement, and seeing these generally supportive people walk out feeling attacked by the Armory folks, I have to say I'm wondering if I should be concerned, too, about how community minded the community center really is...

Re: It's not the request itself, it's the attitude that people oppose...

[ron_newman]

We went to the same meeting, but I thought all of the Armory people dealt with the neighbors' concerns calmly and respectfully. There is a large Neighborhood Advisory Board that will meet at least monthly; most of the members were at the meeting.