City Council postpones Everett Sq. revitalization plans; former high school sites to be discussed

By Neil Zolot

The City Council delayed action on plans to revitalize Everett Square again, at their meeting Monday, May 13. It will be taken up in mid-June and will require a $3 million appropriation to be matched by $2 million in aid.

“Investing in the infrastructure will improve the Square, but there is concern we’re relying on older information without any recent input,” City Council President Robert Van Campen said after ceding the gavel to Ward 3 Councillor Anthony DiPierro for the discussion in reference to a plan for new park space and road reconfigurations being approved by the City Council in 2017 and designs formulated in 2019 as part of a larger urban renewal plan the pandemic put on hold. “I’d like the administration to hear from the business community in real time. If it’s postponed, we should use the time to hear from stakeholders.”

“We have [met with members of the business community] and are making adjustments, but can do more,” Director of Transportation and Mobility Jay Monty responded. “I feel like we’re on solid ground on the fundamental concept, but adjustments can be made around the edges.”

He also pointed out that if a smaller scale project is undertaken aid sources will only fund one-third of a project, not provide $2 million.

Earlier in the meeting Monty was reappointed to his position through January 5, 2026. City Solicitor Colleen Mejia was also reappointed through January 5, 2026. During the process, Councillor-at-Large Guerline Alcy Jabouin asked Mejia why lawyers other than herself and the two assistant city solicitors are sometimes used. “We use outside counsel for expertise in certain areas of law that are complicated,” Mejia answered.

In other items, the Council also approved a proposal to amend the parking requirements, use regulations and dimensional standards in the Zoning Ordinance related to the Lower Broadway Economic Development District. Director of Planning and Development Matt Lattanzi explained that a typographical error required one parking space for every foot of space in industrial buildings and the change would require one space per 1,000 feet of building space. “It will still provide enough parking,” he said.

The Council also approved an expenditure of a $176,000 grant from the Metro North Workforce Board for the expansion of ongoing digital equity initiatives through the Youth Development and Enrichment office; a $30,000 grant from the state Local Cultural Council Program to the Everett Cultural Council and a $20,150 federal Dept. of Homeland Security Emergency Management Performance grant to maintain and/or enhance the Emergency Preparedness System.

The Council also accepted two communiques from the School Committee introduced by their Vice Chairperson and Member At-Large Samantha Lambert at their Monday, May 6 meeting “requesting the School Committee and administration be included in open discussions about school space, including development of a comprehensive study of all city-owned buildings [through] a working commission” and “a School Building Committee be formed for the current proposal for a new High School to include designated members of the City Council, School Committee and School Department and City Administrations.”

The Council tabled a proposal by Alcy Jabouin and Councillor-at-Large Katy Rogers for the School Superintendent and any relevant representatives of the school administration to appear before the City Council to present and discuss existing and foreseeable space needs throughout the entire district at all grade levels, including potential use of Pope John and the former Everett High School. “We want to be on board with what the plans are,” Alcy Jabouin feels.

Everett is one of the very few school systems with kindergarten through 8^th grade neighborhood schools, although at one time the Parlin School was a Junior High. The 2019 closure of Pope John XXIII High School, now owned by the City and slated for housing, and the age of the old public High School, now being used for preschool and other programs, prompted the building of the current High School in 2007 and eventually led to K-8 neighborhood schools, but the current High School is reportedly overcrowded.

Mayor Carlo DeMaria’s long-term plan is to build a new High School at Rivergreen Park, complete with a vocational program, and presumably convert the current High School into a Middle School. That could cost hundreds of millions of dollars and the funding, approval and building process could take years, if it happens at all. There are many who feel the old High School or Pope John could be used to relieve overcrowding in the meantime.