Melrose Forward

A Community Vision and Master Plan

What You Said!

Check out what participants at the
February 10, 2016 Forum had to
say about Melrose Forward.
When attendees first arrived at the Melrose Forward Forum,
they were invited to participate in dot activities, learn about
accomplishments since the 2004 Master Plan, and hear
about project activities since August 2015.
 How did you hear about this meeting?
Place a dot in the column that best describes your response.
Social Media Saw a flyer or
Senior Center More than one
Word of Mouth (Facebook or Newspaper save-the-date Other
Newsletter of these
Twitter) leaflet
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 How do you usually commute?
Place a dot in the column that best describes your response.

Commuter Rail Bus and/or Subway Drive Bike Walk Work from Home
“We would like to see well marked routes to get
you from the trails to the north and the trails to
the south. Connectivity. Safety for kids.”
Carol Naczas and Gabrielle Watson,
Melrose Pedestrian & Bicycle Advisory Committee
Melrose’s Vision: Rail Corridor Overlay District
2004 Site Plan and Design Ell Pond EA IF Creative zoning to promote growth and
Review Ordinance Memorial redevelopment along the commuter rail corridor
Equal access to To maintain Melrose’s physical Park
character and conserving EC
EA resources and Improvements
Before Proposed

natural resources through

opportunities sustainable development Addition of dog EA
practices park and skate
Balanced and park H
UD responsible urban
UD Photo: Melrose Dog Society
Highlands Business District Improvements
design
Overall streetscape enhancement and addition of bike
IF Renovation EA IF
and pedestrian amenities
A vital economic of Athletic
EC Fields
Before After
T
climate
Fred Green
IF
Field, Morelli
A multimodal Photo: Zillow.com Baseball Field, Google Maps Photo: Manisha Bewtra
T transportation Cabbage Patch Photo: Manisha Bewtra
system 2004 2005 2007 - 2015 2008 2014-2015

Academic Melrose’s Accomplishments

AC excellence for all 2008 - 2012
students Affordable Smart Growth District 2015 Open Space &
Housing New Middle School and Innovative zoning to promote transit-oriented Recreation Plan
Housing and development and redevelopment at historic A seven-year action plan
homeownership for Ordinance High School Investments
H Creating housing and
mill complex on Lower Washington Street to continue to enhance
all income levels EA MHS Learning Commons and preserve green space
homeownership Rendering

opportunities for all EC Alta Stone Place

IF
IF
Enhancement of income levels
J AC
H EA
job opportunities EA H
UD

Maintenance and Slope Protection J

IF enhancement of the
UD Melrose Common
Ordinance Playground Renovation
city’s infrastructure Preserving Melrose’s
T

naturally hilly landscape, IF

especially in areas under
C Active citizenry development pressure Google Maps
EA

Photo: Melrose OPCD

 Project activities Advisory Committee
since August 2015
The Master Plan Advisory Committee has met regularly
since August 2015 to review plan progress. Members
include:
Booth at the September 2015 Victorian Fair • MPAC Chair: Anne DeSouza Ward, Planning Board
• Gail Infurna, Board of Aldermen
• Margaret Driscoll, School Committee
• Joan Cassidy, Housing Authority
• Christopher Cinella, Chamber of Commerce
• Ryan Fuller, Business Community
• Lauren Grymek, Community At-Large
• Elizabeth Moroney, Community At-Large
• Dorothy Travis, Cultural Council
• Aaron Weieneth, Conservation Commission
• Denise Gaffey, Director & City Planner
• Erin Zwirko, Assistant Planning Director
• Martha Grover, Energy Efficiency Manager
• Manisha Bewtra, Metropolitan Area Planning Council

More than 300 Victorian Fair visitors

Social media
participated in activities at the Melrose Forward booth. 251 likes, launched after Victorian Fair
We learned about what people value about Melrose and https://www.facebook.com/melroseforward
heard many ideas for the city’s future. These values and
ideas helped us to formulate the draft Melrose Vision 86 followers, launched after Victorian Fair
we are sharing with you tonight. https://twitter.com/melroseforward/

Collaboration with Mayor’s Blog

Other events and outreach

To date, Master Plan Advisory Committee members,
City staff, and MAPC staff attended the Melrose
Human Rights Commission’s International Welcome
Reception in November 2015, learned about city
transportation accommodations from the Melrose
Pedestrian & Bicycle Advisory Committee, received
input from the Melrose Energy Commission, and more.
 Attendees were asked to read the draft Vision Statement
and provide feedback about what they liked about it, what
they would add or change, and if they felt it was relevant
and forward thinking.
 Help Shape The Melrose Vision
Review this draft vision statement and let us know what you think!

As community members look to the city’s future, the following vision reflects communitywide values and aspirations for Melrose in the coming decade.
These statements are a set of desired characteristics for what Melrosians endeavor the city to become. The goals and recommended policies in Melrose
Forward: A Community Vision and Master Plan identify benchmarks by which to evaluate success and are intended to transform this vision into
achievable action steps.

Melrose Community Aspirations

• The physical character of Melrose reflects a balanced approach to planning and development, with the protection and enhancement of the City’s
historical, cultural, recreational, and natural resources. The city represents a blend of urban and suburban design true to its roots as a community largely
developed as a streetcar suburb during the Victorian era.
• It is convenient and safe to travel within Melrose as well as to access destinations outside the city. Melrose accommodates a multimodal transportation
and the variety of transportation options, including the ability to get around by rail, bus, bicycle, walking, and driving, make it an attractive location
within the Greater Boston Region.
• Melrose is an inclusive and welcoming community and provides equal access and opportunities that contribute to the wellbeing of all its residents.
• Melrose City government is approachable and responsive to the needs of residents, businesses, schools, institutions.
• Melrose is recognized as a great place to do business and enjoys a vital economic climate. Boasting a vibrant downtown and charming neighborhood
commercial areas as well as locations appropriate for larger institutional and industrial uses, Melrose supports a wide variety of business opportunities,
employment options, and community services. These amenities enhance the quality of life for residents while also making Melrose a destination for
surrounding communities.
• All Melrose Public School students have the opportunity to achieve greatness and educational excellence.
• Melrose is a regional leader in energy efficiency, renewable energy development, resiliency planning, and communitywide sustainability initiatives.
• People of all income levels and ages, including families as well as non-family households, can find housing in Melrose and homeownership is accessible
to its current and prospective residents.
• City infrastructure and publicly-owned properties are well-supported with continued investment, maintenance, and enhancements.
• Melrose keeps pace with technological innovation and societal trends, making it adaptable to the evolving demands of its citizenry.
• Melrosians enjoy a strong sense of community, thanks to their active civic participation and spirit of volunteerism.
 What would you add or change
about this draft vision statement?
more parking
affordability
protection of
strike larger spaces
community- may not be open space
industrial needed
wide for all income
areas
levels (me too!)
e s p lease
y
cross my
community fingers
needs to must address Melrose stays
support a shorter drug/alcohol affordable
support arts version/ address cost
vibrant arts issues
and culture elevator of natural
community
programs pitch gas and
infill development,
bike and internet eliminate
walking should
“missing teeth” of
be stressed commercial block
need plan to re-
separate from walkability
public library open elementary
driving
stronger in need of schools and
on natural addition or new increase school
larger building funding sustainability challenging
resource commercial
protection focus must go
space/rent for
deeper and independent
get bolder businesses
 What do you like about it?
like: regional preservation
like the like the leader on
nice mix of is listed early
economic, changes inclusive energy, etc.
social, and from 2004 focus on
climate smart!
environmental yes
concerns
leadership start high
focus on accessible of energy good that it school earlier
neighborhoods local efficiency and is consistent by 1 hour
vibrant renewable
government with 2004
downtown energy yes
yes
yes “strong should include
sense of maintaining
accessibility affordability,
more community”
inclusion and welcoming especially in
sustainability diversity! projects that housing
and diversity invite for more!
focus focus
multi-modal
transit er
ye s oth
ect s yes - working
onn itie
forward to c mmun like the safe
need to pedestrian in co to appeal
moving - and convenient
improve scope multi-modal, to different
but is it for groups
high school everyone?
especially bikes
culture
“When trying to
establish cohousing, it
all boils down to finding
individual properties
and that there is a
balance of shared
and common space...
The idea is to set up
a pocket community.
The sense that we’ve
gotten is that Melrose
is a smart growth place.
There is a high quality of
life and high density.”
Peter Goldstein,
Bay State Commons
“People are talking a lot about community, and that’s what
the library is. We are in the process of assessing the need for
renovation of the library in an area that hasn’t been renovated
in over 25 years... We’re trying it keep up with modern times!”
Diane Wall and Linda Gardener, Melrose Public Library
 Next, Mayor Dolan welcomed participants to the forum
and introduced the project team. MAPC staff presented an
overview of the project to date along with key findings. The
audience was asked to call out answers to questions about
what they love about Melrose and what they think are
issues facing the community.
 All forum participants were given clickers which they
used to answer a series of interactive questions about
themselves. The answers to these demographic questions
have been compared to data for Melrose as a whole.
 What is your age?
35%
Forum Attendees 31%
30% Melrose

25% 23%

20%

15%

10%

5%

0%
0 - 19 20 - 29 30 - 39 40 - 49 50 – 59 60 or better
 How do you identify yourself?
100%
90%
90% Forum Attendees
80% Melrose
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
White Asian Black or Hispanic or Multiracial Other
African Latino
American
 Do you own a home or rent?
90%
82%
67% Forum Attendees
80% of all housing units in
70% Melrose are owner-
60%
occupied
55%
50% of all housing units in
40% Melrose are single-
30% family detached homes
20%
10%
0%
I own a single I own a multi- I own a I rent my Other (none)
family home family home condominium home or
(e.g., triple- or townhouse apartment
decker)
 What is your annual
household income?
80%
Forum Attendees
70% 67%

$86,409
60%

50%
is the median
40% household income in all
of Melrose
30%

20%

10%

0%
$0 - $20,000 - $35,000 - $55,000 - $85,000 - $140,000
$19,999 $34,999 $54,999 $84,999 $139,999 or more
 What is the highest level of
education you have completed?
60%
54%
Forum Attendees
50%
Melrose
40%

30%
21%
20%

10%

0%
No High High School Associate Bachelor’s Master’s
School Diploma Degree Degree Degree or
Diploma Higher
What is your travel time to work?
45%
40% 39% Forum Attendees
Melrose
35%
30% 27%
25%
20%
15%
10%
5%
0%
Less than 15 15 to 29 30 to 44 45 minutes to More than 1
minutes minutes minutes 1 hour hour
 When did you move to Melrose?
68%
40%
Forum Attendees
35% 34% 34%

55%
30%
25%
of all Melrose residents
20% moved to the city in
15% 2000 or later
10%
5%
0%
I was born Before 1975 1976 to 1986 to 1996 to Between
here. 1985 1995 2005 2006 and
today
 During the last portion of the evening, forum attendees
visited stations with information about demographics,
housing, economic development, zoning, and
transportation. They were asked to share their ideas for the
next decade in Melrose by writing with markers on brown
paper at each station.
 Economic Development Housing Trends
The labor force: 16,063 workers The number of households will continue to increase.
Majority are highly
highly educated
educa ed and employed in high-wage,
high wage, high-skilled
high skilled jobs.
obs.
In 2010, Melrose had 11,213 households. This was an increase
of 2% since 2000. Between 2010 and 2030, Melrose is
67% 76% 84% expected to add 1,164 more households.
aged 25+ have
bachelor’s degree
are in
professional or
work outside
Melrose
Projected household growth (one household
management
or higher
jobs corresponds with one unit), decline in
household size, and low vacancy rate (3.5%)
Businesses: 571 Jobs: 5
5,934
934 indicate the need for more housing units.

Average Household Size is

projected to decline. In 2010 the
average household size was 2.38; it
THREE 38% 10% 9%
is expected to drop to 2.21 in 2030.
Largest Health care & Educational
Retail trade
Social assistance Services
Industries:

Revenue & Expenditures 2015
Heavily dependent on residential taxes, but additional revenue potential lies within
increasing commercial property value.
Revenue
69.7% : Property taxes
88% residential
11% commercial and industrial
$12.33*: Residential tax rate
$5,383: Average single family tax bill
$18.78*: Commercial tax rate
*per $1,000 assessed value
The city’s population is aging and by 2030, senior
households will make up nearly 45% of total households.
As the composition of the population changes, the types
of housing needed will also change.
Expenditures
63% : Spent on education
11.02%: Spent on public works
11.92%: Increase in fixed costs over Age of Housing Stock: More
past 5 years than half (53.2%) of the
homes in Melrose were built
prior to 1940, while 5.8%
were built after 2000.
 What type of economic activity and development would you like
to see? Where? What kinds of businesses do you think are missing
in Melrose? In your opinion, how has the community invested in its
future? What investments would you like to see?

Meeting attendees had many suggestions for ways that

Melrose can promote more economic development.
Suggestions included small businesses development (not
just retail), co-working space, restaurants and nightlife,
an arts center, and light manufacturing. Areas of the city
they thought could use more attention are Wyoming
Heights, the Washington Street corridor, and around the
Oak Grove station. Attendees noted the need to improve
existing infrastructure (particularly schools and other public
facilities), encourage green business practices, and make
downtown more pedestrian friendly.
 Homes and Households Be the Ambassador…
Home Values
The housing market has Melrose Median Sales Prices
$600,000
Housing in Melrose
$500,000 1987-2015
How will Melrose adapt to more households and
recovered since the recession.
2015 Median Sales Prices
$400,000 changing housing preferences?
• All Homes: $465,000
$300,000
Scenario: You know each of the 5 different households below who are looking
• Single Family: $500,000* $200,000
for a home in Melrose. Would each be able to find and be happy with existing
• Condo: $285,000 $100,000 housing types in town?
* All-time high $0

$200,000 or
more
$10-14,999
4%
$15-24,999
YES NO
10%
5%
$25-34,999
Single Family Condo All Household Type They would be able It would be difficult
to find a unit that to find a housing
6%
$150-$199,999
meets their unit that meets their
13% preferences/needs. preferences/needs.
Melrose $35-$49,999

Senior Living Alone:

11%

Household A retired man or woman living alone on a fixed income is

Income looking for a smaller housing unit (likely a multifamily unit)

$100-$149,999
Breakdown $50-$74,999
14%
High incomes with elevator access, in a walkable neighborhood with retail
and services nearby (or a short drive away).
21%
$86,409: Median Household Income
$113,560: Median Family Income
Couple Looking to Downsize:
$75-$99,999 An “empty nester” couple currently lives in a 4-bedroom
16% 42% of Households earn $100K+ single family home in Melrose, but is looking for a smaller unit
to buy or rent (e.g. town house, a row house, or

Housing Costs condominium) with retail and dining within walking distance.

67
% of households

32
own their homes. Young Family:
% of households are A young couple with a baby or toddler (or thinking about
33% rent.
housing cost-burdened. having children soon) is looking to buy their first home in
Melrose – preferably a more affordable, smaller house or

3.5
A cost-burdened household is one condominium.

% of housing units that spends more than 30% of

are vacant income on housing costs. HUD Single Parent with Child(ren):
considers a rate of 30% or higher A single parent is looking for a two or three bedroom unit
cost-burdened households in a (small house or multifamily option).

7.6
% of housing units community to pose a significant issue.
on Subsidized 20% of households spend 30- Single Twentysomething:
Housing Inventory 50% of their income on housing A twentysomething “Millennial” who grew up in Melrose
wants to live in town and rent an apartment near transit and
and 12% spend over 50%. retail and dining.
 What types of housing are most
needed in Melrose?

Meeting attendees were adamant about the need for more

affordable housing for people of all ages. For seniors, in
particular, there needs to be more smaller, accessible
housing. Many acknowledged the benefits of cohousing
for preserving open space, maintaing affordability, and
promoting sustainability. There could also be more housing
density in public transit areas, specifically near the Oak
Grove and Highland stations.
 Transportation
About a quarter of Melrose residents do not drive to work.
Other 4%
Bicycle Walk 2%
1%

Public
Transit Drive 74
19% 74%

How Melrose
Residents Get
to Work
Even so, Melrose residents travel
farther and own more vehicles on
average than residents in many nearby
communities.
Daily Vehicle Miles Traveled Average Number of Vehicles
per Household per Household
50 2
41.9 42.8 1.6
40 1.6 1.5
29.3 1.2
30 1.2

20 0.8

10 0.4

0 0
Melrose Inner Core MAPC Region Melrose Inner Core MAPC Region
Transportation
p

Arterials :
4 miles
Collectors:
14 miles
Local:
69 miles
 Is it convenient and safe to get around Melrose? How
can the variety of transportation options in Melrose be
even better accommodated?

There were ample calls for improving pedestrian safety

by adding crosswalks with blinking lights and changing
outdated traffic signals, particularly downtown. Attendees
also had suggestions for promoting biking and increasing
bike safety such as adding in more bike lanes and creating
bike corridors to MBTA stations. This can help increase
multi-modal transportation and reduce the percent of
people driving to work. Further, residents would love to
see the expansion of Zipcar throughout Melrose and the
introduction of a bike sharing program like Hubway.
 Melrose by the Numbers
Total Population 1970 - 2010 Population Projections by Age, 1990 - 2030
Source: U.S. Census Sources: U.S. Census and MAPC
Since 2000, Melrose has added households at a slightly faster
35,000 33,180
30,055
100%
8% 9% 8% 8% 11% pace (4%) than Middlesex Country and the state (3.4%). Given
90%
30,000 28,150
27,134 26,983
8% 8% 8% 12%
13%
75 and Over that household sizes are also shrinking in the city (2.5 in 2009 and
80%
25,000
65 - 74 2.37 in 2013), these figures suggest two trends: young couples
70%
36% 42% 45% 35 - 64 are moving in, or families are shrinking in size due to aging and
60% 43%
20,000
50%
41%
20 - 34
mortality. Meanwhile, the city’s household profile is quite diverse,
15,000 40% 19 and Under
as 1 in 3 households have either senior householders and/or
30%
24% 18% 16% 16%
school-aged children. The majority of housing units in Melrose are
10,000 16%
20%
single-family homes.
5,000 10% 23% 24% 23% 21% 19%

0
0%
1990 2000 2010 2020 2030
Household Projections, 2000 - 2030
1970 1980 1990 2000 2010

Source: MAPC 12,377

12,500

% Change, Total Population 1970 - 2010 Melrose’s total population in 2010 was 26,983. Population
12,000 11,777
Source: U.S. Census
decline has slowed to 0.6% in the past decade and recent
8.0% Census data suggests that population may be rebounding. 11,500 11,213
6.0%
Close to half of the current population is between 35 and 64. 10,982
4.0% 3.1% 2.6%
Over the next 10 years, the senior population, or those 65 11,000
2.0%
0.0% 1970 -1980 years and older, will experience the most significant growth.
Another indicator of this trend is the city’s rising median age 10,500
-2.0% -0.6% 1980 - 1990

-4.0% 1990 -2000 (39.4 in 2000 and 41.9 in 2010).

10,000
-6.0% 2000-2010 2000 2010 2020 2030
-8.0%
-10.0%
-12.0%
Melrose Massachusetts Middlesex County
Race and Ethnicity, 2010 Housing Units by Type of Structure
100.0% = 500 units

Overall, Melrose is less diverse than Massachusetts as Hispanic/Latino

80.0%
almost 90% of its population is White. However, Melrose More than One Race
single-family houses two-family houses three to nine units
has become more diverse. All minority race and ethnicities
60.0% Other
have increased since 2000, while the Non-Hispanic White
Asian
population has declined. 1,277 1,130
40.0% Black or African American
ten or more units
White
6,803

Melrose Forward
20.0%

0.0%
Source: U.S. Census Source: ACS 2013 5-Year Estimates 2,080
A Community Vision and Master Plan
Melrose Massachusetts
 Melrose by the Numbers
Median Household Income Educational Attainment, 2013
Source: ACS 2013 5-Year Estimate
Source: ACS 2013 5-Year Estimates
The city’s median household income of $85,704 is higher than that
60.0% of Middlesex County and substantially higher than Massachusetts’

$85,704 50.0%

40.0%
median household income of $66,866. Melrose residents are
well educated, which is illustrated by the fact that 76.9% have
Melrose completed an Associate Degree, Bachelor’s Degree, or Master’s
30.0%
Degree, compared to 63.6% of Massachusetts residents.

$82,090
20.0%

10.0%

Middlesex County 0.0%

Less than High High School Associate Bachelor's Master's
$66,866 School Diploma Degree Degree or
Higher
Degree or
Higher
Occupation
Massachusetts
Melrose Massachusetts Middlesex County
Management, business,
4.7% science, and arts occupations

7.9%
Service occupations
Compared to Middlesex County and
More than half of Melrose’s population works in
Massachusetts, Melrose today: management, business, science, and art occupations and
Sales and office occupations

22%
another 22% work in sales and office occupations. While Natural resources,
construction, and

• Has slightly smaller households 64,9% of residents drive alone to work, almost 20% take 53.5%
maintenance occupations

public transportation and 7.8% carpool. Almost half of

• Has a larger population of adults and
Production, transportation,
and material moving
Melrose residents can get to work within half an hour, 11.9%
occupations
seniors though it takes 30 to 45 minutes for another 27% of
• Has more non-family households residents. Source: ACS 2013 5-Year Estimates

• Has a higher median age

• Has higher median household income Transportation to Work Travel Time to Work
• Has a higher level of education 64.9% Source: ACS 2013 5-Year Estimates
9.9%
18.4%
attainment for adults over the age of 25
• Has a lower poverty rate
17.4%
• Is less racially and ethnically diverse < 15 minutes
15-30 minutes
30-45 minutes
19.9% 45-60 minutes
> 60 minutes
7.8%
4.4% 27.4%

Melrose Forward 1.0% 2.0%

26.9% Source: ACS 2013 5-Year Estimates

A Community Vision and Master Plan
What surprises you about this data? What
do you know that the numbers don’t say?

Participants were surprised by the lack of diversity in

Melrose given its proximity to an urban center. One person
mentioned that the city needs to do more than just say that
it is welcoming to those that are “different.” Attendees also
wondered why its so hard to convince voters to invest in the
community based on the income levels noted, and how the
failure of the override would affect the city. It was noted by
a number of people that there are a number of residents
affected by substance abuse and mental health issues,
which is contributing to crime in the community.
“Gentrification is happening all around
us. People move to Melrose to get away
from that.”
Kathy Peterson and Liz Foulser,
Melrose Pedestrian & Bicycle Advisory Committee
“With the new development happening, it enables
the city to require that some of the housing is
affordable... Melrose is losing its economic diversity
and blue collar jobs.”
Liz Foulser,
Melrose Pedestrian & Bicycle Advisory Committee
“We want fiscal transparency
and a diversity of businesses.”
Dorothy Travis,
Master Plan Advisory Committee
“We’ve been living here since 2009. We love this
city. The quality of life is incredible. The fact that
the casino is coming…buses coming in all night,
idling all night. It’s coming like a freight train.”
Ramsey and Lisa Trimble,
Melrose Residents
“Being a lifer, it’s a sense of
community and belonging.
People who move here tend to
be problem solvers and active
community members. We have an
obligation to be stewards of our
community. City leadership has
taken an active role in making sure
that the downtown is welcoming
for both residents and businesses.”
Alison Socha, Realtor
 Thank you to

for the photographs!

Melrose Forward
A Community Vision and Master Plan