Our Mission
In accord with our city’s long history, we advocate for bequeathing to future generations a valuable public asset at the UMCH property— a signature, multi-use community greenspace— for the benefit and enjoyment of all.
Our Guiding Principles
- We embrace this goal because the UMCH property is a uniquely important site—due to its location, size, and physical features—for the future of our city, and we have just one opportunity to get it right.
- We believe that the developed site should reflect the interests and values of our city’s residents—those who have sunk roots, made their homes, and both know and express the character of our city.
- We are committed to obtaining full disclosure of relevant information, in the service of informing a robust and reasoned public dialog about the future of this property and its impact on our community.
- We envision for the land a multi-use development featuring 1) a large, signature public greenspace with community-building amenities (a perimeter bike-pedestrian path, historically-inspired event facility, amphitheater, nature preserve, sport field, water-feature, community garden, etc., as distinct possibilities; ≈ 28-30 acres), 2) complementary commercial space and service-oriented retail along the High Street frontage (≈ 6-8 acres), and 3) lower-density, architecturally compatible residential housing (owner-occupied, empty-nester) immediately adjacent Longfellow Avenue (≈ 2-3 acres).
- We urge our city government to embrace this once-in-history opportunity by acquiring the property, thereby gaining full creative control of this public-private project for the benefit of our city and its residents for generations to come.