Mayor, state senator: New Rev Soccer Stadium an environmental ‘slam dunk’

By Neil Zolot

New England Revolution President Brian Bilello, along with team representatives, Mayor Carlo DeMaria and State Senator Sal DiDomenico, once again met with the community with respect to the use of the proposed stadium and waterfront park at a public forum at the Connolly Center on Wednesday, August 27. “There’s lots of opportunity for community engagement,” Bilello said. “We’ll have 40 or 50 ticketed events a year. Beyond that the facility is available.”

He also spoke about the economic impact of having the 25,000-seat stadium, which will be located on a 43.1-acre parcel on Alford Street, across Lower Broadway from the Encore Boston Harbor resort casino and across the Mystic River from Charlestown, as a “catalyst for other developers to make Everett a destination so visitors will spend their money in Everett.” The site is presently home to a nonoperational power plant formerly operated by Constellation Energy.

“The stadium is the only way to regenerate lost tax revenue and will generate other development,” DeMaria added.

“The stadium will be a catalyst and an environmental win,” DiDomenico agreed in reference to the millions of dollars The Kraft Group will spend on environmental remediation. “We deserve better than to be a dumping ground for the area, which benefitted other communities. I believe the majority of residents want something different.”

He also pointed out that legislation removing the land as a Designated Port Area (DPA) requires a stadium be built or the land reverts back to DPA status, or a new power facility would be located there “and we’ll lose control of the waterfront again.”

“This is the best offer we’ve gotten,” DeMaria added. “Without the project there’s no waterfront access.”

The mayor and DiDomenico have often said there is no local, state or federal funding for the waterfront cleanup. Bilello called the project “a slam dunk from an environmental point of view.”

Over the course of the evening, Revolution Multicultural Engagement Specialist Juliane Mahoney talked about the team hosting Heritage Nights for ethic communities in the city, such as the Latin and Pacific Island communities, and free soccer clinics for young players similar to those conducted in Chelsea, East Boston and Somerville. She also said the Revolution roster is international and many players attend events in the area based on their heritage.

Kraft Sports Group Revolution Academy Director Deven Apajee delved a little deeper into “free community programming,” including team coaches and players working with local male and female soccer players at school and club levels. “We like to celebrate soccer,” he said. “The goal is to involve the community.”

Transportation and parking were also discussed because there will only be 75 parking spaces on the site. DeMaria spoke about a new commuter rail station at the casino across Lower Broadway for the stadium site and another commuter rail station at Sullivan Square, which is also the site of the MBTA Orange Line subway station. “The facility will be accessible by public transportation, and we’ll finally have a connection to the subway system for the first time in decades,” he said. “No cars will be coming and any cars coming will have no place to park. We’re a car-centric society, but the only vehicle parking will be for people with mobility issues. You can move in and out with a viable public transportation system. I’ve seen it at Fenway Park, Encore patrons use public transportation, and I never drive to events at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough,” where the Revolution and New England Patriots football team play and other events are held.

He also said the neighborhood resident permit parking system will prohibit cars from other parts of Everett from parking near the stadium and a plan needs to be worked out with the casino about people not being permitted to park there for stadium events, with some possible exceptions for things like High School graduation ceremonies. DeMaria mentioned that people living in the area might be able to rent out their driveways for parking for stadium events, as has been the case in Foxborough, although that is no longer as common as it was — after the Internal Revenue Service and Mass. Department of Revenue officials warned people any money made had to be declared as legal income.

Other enhancements will be completion of a pedestrian footbridge across the Mystic River from Assembly Row in Somerville and extension of the Riverwalk from the casino to the stadium site. “The pedestrian footbridge will connect from the Assembly Row MBTA to the Northern Strand Rail Trail and Encore Harborwalk, roughly parallel to the MBTA Commuter Rail Bridge,” City Transportation Planner Jay Monty told The Advocate. “The City is also working to complete the Harborwalk to and under the Alford Street Bridge, which would allow a seamless walking and biking connection from the Orange Line to the stadium site and other points along the Everett waterfront.”

Many of these enhancements are already approved and funded, with only the details left to be worked out. “Transportation options were talked about before the stadium,” DiDomenico said. “If that foundation wasn’t laid, it would take longer to put these measures into action. There’d be no way to put it in under present conditions. If we were to put the stadium in as it is now, I’d take a back seat.”

Bilello also spoke about how early in the process the siting is. “By no means has a stadium been approved,” he said. “All the legislation did was remove the DPA status. There are many steps to go. The next steps are state permitting and local review, and public engagement is a part of the process.”

“This is just the start of the public process,” Revolution Vice President of Marketing & Community Relations Cathal Conlon added. “Everything is conceptual now. We have to start the actual planning and there are opportunities for public input in the future.”

About 100 people attended the forum, with many offering remarks after the various presentations from the Revolution. Many reiterated their opinions for or against the project from earlier forums, but Conlon feels comments have become less against the project and more about getting information and providing input as to how the stadium may be used for the benefit of the community and what might be included in a Community Benefits Agreement (CBA).

Councillor-at-Large Katy Rogers mentioned the need for public restrooms and trash receptacles in any park, The Kraft Group funding a community center and public safety facilities and establishment of a Community Action Board to oversee community access and use of the park and stadium. She also brought up the subject of a shuttle service to move people from outlying parking areas.

Conservation Commission, Planning Board and Clean-Up Everett member Stephanie McColaugh echoed Rogers and feels the environmental remediation planned is an improvement of the site. “It seems like our only option,” she said. “I’ll take progress over perfection.”

“I want to see the power plant go away,” Jeff Parente said. “It looks horrible, but I don’t agree the stadium is the only option. I like soccer and will probably go to games if it’s built, but other things could go there. It seems like Gillette is fine for the Revolution. Why do they need another stadium?”

Ward 5 Councillor and mayoral candidate Robert Van Campen expressed empathy for DeMaria and support for the project but has some reservations. “I know it isn’t easy to stand there and be criticized, and I recognize this type of development can be transformative, but it doesn’t mean we jump in with both feet without input from the community,” he told DeMaria. “I also want you to ask The Kraft Group to create a fund for our small businesses, be it for facade improvements or interior renovations. Let’s not just fire up the Commercial Triangle [off Lower Broadway and Revere Beach Parkway/Route 16], but the entire business community.”