This summer, LEGOLAND, a movie theater, restaurants, outlet stores and even a new MBTA stop have opened in the brand new Assembly Row development in Somerville, located off of I-93 along the Mystic River. Since the new neighborhood has celebrated its grand opening season in 2014, it has brought guests in not just to shop or eat, but to partake in free fitness classes, food truck festivals, open markets and the like.
Assembly Row has shown efforts to become part of the Somerville community in which it’s located, and now, the neighborhood has teamed up with the City of Somerville for a new endeavor: A stretch of road within the development needs a new street name, and Mayor Joseph Curtatone is asking those who live in the city to help come up with one.
The street in question is currently named Great River Road, and it runs along Baxter Park and the new MBTA train tracks, but the name causes confusion as it’s briefly interrupted by Artisan Way, before continuing along the Mystic River. Check out the map below for a visualization – the section to be renamed runs parallel to the tracks.
So, as the area becomes more trafficked due to the attractions at Assembly Row, Somerville residents are facing a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to chime in and rename part of the city’s geography. In the announcement made in Somerville News Weekly, the decision to engage the community and crowdsource the street name was described as a result of the “many thoughtful and creative minds in Somerville.” (It is a New York Times-branded hot spot, after all.)
Living in Somerville and want to give your two cents? The city will be collecting suggestions over the next two weeks; ideas can be sent in by calling ‘311,’ or by emailing mackerman@somervillema.gov. The five best potential names will be announced for a vote, and then the top two highest-voted names will be sent to Mayor Curtatone, who will make the final decision.
Beyond that, there are a few guidelines that submissions should follow. Somerville News Weekly lists them:
• Names that have a Somerville connection get preference. This is Somerville, after all.
• Good names won’t sound too much like other streets in the City. Not only do we want to encourage creativity, but we also want to avoid confusion in case of an emergency.
• Assembly Square has a rich history, including being home to a Ford manufacturing plant. While we love celebrating our past, we also want to look to the future as Assembly Square continues its transformation. We’re looking for names that highlight where Somerville is headed, including being a walkable, bikable center for arts and innovation.
It’s certainly an exciting time for the city of Somerville, as Assembly Row brings a new destination in what used to be an unusable area. Feeling inspired by what’s ahead for your town? Submit your street names by October 22.
Image via Assembly Row
