Three Recent Quincy Center Revitalization Public Hearings

The City of Quincy recently held public hearings on three specific initiatives associated with the revitalization of Quincy Center.  The following is a brief overview of each.  Further information is available at the City of Quincy Planning Department located at 1305 Hancock Street in City Hall, (617) 376-1363 or at Quincy 2000 Collaborative, (617) 847-1454.

Urban Revitalization and Development Plan (URD)

The goals and objectives of the URD are intended to stimulate private investment in the heart of Quincy Center through public sector redevelopment actions and investments.  The URD focuses on 55 of the 113 acres comprising Quincy Center.  The boundaries consist of Hancock St. from School Street to City Hall, the Parkingway (Ross garage area), and the Hancock Parking lot.

The cornerstone of the URD plan is the identification of the Hancock Parking lot and the Ross Garage lot as city-owned properties that will be disposed for redevelopment by private investment.  The approval of this plan by the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development will give the city the legal authority to negotiate directly with potential developers for the redevelopment of these parcels, and provide a mechanism to acquire additional selected parcels if necessary to implement the overall redevelopment goals and objectives.  The plan designates one building in the Parkingway, two properties on Cottage Avenue and one property on Hancock Street as private properties that may need to be acquired through private or public acquisitions to fully implement the outlined goals and objectives.

A second important element of the URD is the intent to create more open spaces and public areas throughout downtown seen as essential elements to a vibrant mixed-use downtown.  Opportunities for more open space cited in the URD include the Adams Green to connect the City Hall Plaza, Hancock Cemetery and the Church of the Presidents, as well as the addition of pocket parks and other gathering places throughout the downtown.  A third element is a series of infrastructure and streetscape improvements to create a more aesthetically pleasing and pedestrian friendly environment.

District Improvement Financing – Revenue Plan

In 2005 the City of Quincy became the first community in the Commonwealth to have a district Improvement Financing Plan (DIF) adopted within a downtown commercial center.  The second phase of the DIF implementation process is the approval of an Invested Revenue Plan. The DIF Investment Revenue Plan that will be presented at this public hearing outlines a $30 million initial-bonding proposal that will pay off the remaining balance of an existing $10 million bond, and provide financing for the Quincy Center Concourse, the Adams Green, a Quincy Center Cultural Center and various other infrastructure and streetscape improvements in the downtown.

The DIF program enables the downtown revitalization project to be a self-sustaining initiative through the use of new tax and revenue growth created within the District, and investing it back in the form of upgrading existing infrastructure and public buildings/structures; promoting and encouraging infill development, redevelopment and mixed use development; and creating additional traffic capacity, parking and public spaces.  Expected tax revenues from new growth will pay back bonds over a 30-year life of the district.

Quincy Center Concourse – Phase 2 Mass Highway 25% Designs Public Hearing

Design alternatives for the Concourse have been discussed for several decades, with a variety of options and right of way layouts presented for community consideration.  Crossing Hancock Street as proposed in the preferred alternative adopted by the City Council in November 2005 and presented at this Mass Highway Department (MHD) public hearing is the most direct, and provides a seamless connection between Burgin Parkway (Phase I - completed) and the Southern Artery (Phase III – construction to begin in the Summer).

The swift endorsement of the 25% design plans presented by MHD will move this critical project one step closer to completion, which is a vital element of the overall revitalization of Quincy Center.  The Concourse will provide a new east-west travel corridor that will alleviate existing downtown traffic congestion; unlock new development opportunities consistent with the community vision that has evolved in recent public forums; and create a stronger and more viable business district. The Quincy Center Concourse as presented is a major step towards providing the public infrastructure necessary to support new office, retail, residential and entertainment development in Quincy Center, and is a critical component to making the downtown a business and cultural destination.

Why Support These Initiatives

Individually each of the initiatives will not result in the long sought revitalization of Quincy Center. Nor will the new Tax Increment Financing program alone, the new Quincy Center Zoning District alone, the new streamlined permitting process alone, the creation of new Design Guidelines and Downtown Vision alone, nor alone will the critical private sector investment that has been lacking for many decades create a vibrant mixed use urban center for the City.

What will make the revitalization of Quincy Center a reality is the leadership and commitment of City government and the support of its citizenry and business community, coupled with the implementation of the various public sector stimulus programs adopted or proposed in conjunction with private sector investment.  Downtown redevelopment has experienced many starts and stops over the last 40 years, with both public sector and private sector interests often waiting for the other to make the first move.  Under the leadership of Mayor Phelan, the City Council and other community leaders the city is making the first move in an unprecedented manner, and the private sector is watching and listening with great interest. 

Swift adoption of the proposals presented is essential to finally ending year after year of good intentioned talk and planning, and begin a bold new beginning in the creation of a 21st Century Urban Downtown.  If you need additional information please contact us at (617) 847-1454.