Mayor Dan Rizzo has often said that Revere is a “city on the rise,” and at his State of the City address Monday before a packed council chamber, he offered a roadmap in an attempt to show the city just how far.
“For some time now, we’ve talked about Revere being a city on the rise,” Rizzo said. ”If you look out across the city today, you will see that Revere is literally a city on the rise, both in steel and concrete. Vanguard at Waterfront Square, Market Basket, Harley-Davidson, Harry Della Russo Stadium, 565 Beach St., TA Associates, For Kids Only, 39 units of senior housing at the former site of Reardon’s Restaurant, and the new Sgt. James J. Hill School represent over $150 million in public and private investment across our community.”
“These developments will change the face of Revere for decades to come,” he continued. “To this point, our development strategy has been to offer tax incentives, expedite the permitting process and seek to create specialized zoning districts that will foster desired uses. We know this is real progress; however, we continue to challenge ourselves daily – we know there is much more to be done.”
During his remarks Tuesday, Rizzo announced Plan Revere, a program spearheaded by Director of Economic Development John Festa, which will take a “comprehensive view of all development in Revere,” not the least of which includes the future of the Suffolk Downs and Wonderland sites.
The program will attempt to harness Revere’s natural advantages, particularly the city’s proximity to Boston, transportation infrastructure, and perhaps its greatest asset, the Revere Beach waterfront.
A 50-member Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee, which will include all city councillors, will develop the new zoning and policy recommendations for the plan. They will also offer feedback on new and emergent district designations. The city government is encouraging all interested residents to forward their resume and credentials to the Office of the Mayor or the Office of Economic Development.
A component of Plan Revere will be the future of the Suffolk Downs and Wonderland sites.
“While we weren’t awarded a casino license, we were handed an opportunity to craft our own vision for what’s best for Revere at these locations,” said Rizzo. “Tonight, I am calling upon our friends at Suffolk Downs and Wonderland, as well as Boston Mayor Marty Walsh, to work with me in entering conversations regarding the future and development of both of these locations. Suffolk Downs represents the largest tract of undeveloped land in Metropolitan Boston. It sits less than two miles from downtown Boston, has two rapid transit stops and straddles Rte 1A. Our future is bright if we plan for it, and we are starting that process right now.”
The mayor’s remarks also championed some of the city’s many accomplishments in 2014, highlighting in particular achievements for what he described as the city’s “core tenants,” including providing a “first class, 21st century education,” attracting new investment and economic development projects to the city, public safety, improvements in innovation and transparency in city services.
The school department was a particular point of pride for the mayor, who highlighted the National Center for Urban School Transformation’s designation of Revere High School as the “Best Urban School in America,” and Footsteps2Brilliance’s commendation of Revere as a “model innovation city.”
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