2013-Annual Report - Laserfiche WebLink

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Economic Development The Economic Development Office encourages appropriate commercial growth and fosters the prosperity of businesses in the Town's commercial areas. Through the development of policies, programs and new initiatives the Economic De- velopment Office helps to carry out the economic goals as outlined by the Board of Selectmen: 1) enhance the vitality of Lexington Center, 2) support business development, and 3) increase commercial investment in the Hartwell Avenue District. Lexington Center reflects the region's economic recovery over the last few years with an increase in occupied store- fronts, and the Town's commitment to transportation and parking improvements. Private sector investment in the Center has led to a decreased retail and office vacancy rate, dropping from nearly 9% in 2010 to 2% in 2013. Addition- ally, the Town's Economic Development Office and Plan- ning Department led efforts to implement the State's first "parklet " —a public space project which converted two ve- hicle parking spaces into outdoor seating and bicycle _ parking for over 20 bikes. The parklet has created N , , A '� T fresh interest in the Center,v added new bicycle accom- modations, as well as con -„ tributed to an increase in business activity. At the same time the Town Lexington Centers new parklet, a public recognizes that vehicle space project. parking in the Center remains critical to the business en- vironment. The Economic Development Director, serving also as the Center's "Parking Champion ", has been working with the Parking Management Group (a sub - committee of the Center Committee) and the Tourism Committee to de- velop new public parking signs and a new parking web page for the Town's website. In addition, the Town continues to advance the Center Streetscape Plan, which is designed to improve pedestrian safety, revitalize the aging landscape, and enhance multi -modal transportation. The Economic Development Director has also led a new effort to organize property owners along Hartwell Avenue and promote Lexington as a key player in the life sciences industry. In the Hartwell Avenue business district, prop- erty owners have come together to create an informal group dedicated to collectively addressing issues and encouraging new investment in the district. This effort has resulted in two exiting projects for the area: 1) a pilot commuter shuttle that will begin running in the fall of 2013, and 2) a plan for a new multi -use sidewalk along Hartwell Avenue con- TOWN OF LEXINGTON 19 necting the bikeway to Bedford Street. The pilot commuter shuttle is a product of a federal transportation grant award- ed to the Town and the 128 Business Council to facilitate access for employees to key job centers and alleviate traffic congestion along Route 128. The multi -use sidewalk will be the first visible step to improving the area's pedestrian con- nection and creating a sense of place. The Town also supported two separate Tax Increment Fi- nancing Agreements this year, one for the VistaPrint ex- pansion and a separate agreement to support UniQure, a bio -tech company relocating from the Netherlands to Lex- ington. Unfortunately the VistaPrint TIF agreement will not be implemented given unforeseen development challenges unrelated to the TIF agreement. However, the UniQure TIF agreement and the associated development of their lab and manufacturing space are successfully moving forward. UniQure is expected to generate 90 new jobs and will invest approximately $40 million in the renovation and equipping of their new facility located in the Hartwell Avenue business district. UniQure is a welcome addition to Lexington's grow- ing cluster of bio pharmaceutical companies. UniQure' future research and lab site on Hartwell Avenue in Lexington. Human Resources The Human Resources Department spent a significant amount of time in fiscal year 2013 bargaining with the Town's unions. The Town was able to reach settlements with the following unions for fiscal year 2013 through 2015: IAFF Local 1491, Lexington Fire Fighters (FY13); AFSCME Local 1703, Building Maintenance Custodians; AFSCME Local 1703, Public Safety Dispatchers; AFSC- ME Local 1703, Public Works; and the Lexington Munici- pal Employees Association. Other accomplishments of the Human Resources Depart- ment in fiscal year 2013 include: