Despite Concerns, Melrose Alleyway Overhaul Will Include Mural

MELROSE, MA — A downtown alleyway is getting some new artwork as the city works to remake the underutilized way.

The Historic District Commission, despite some concerns, approved Tuesday night the city’s request for a mural scrawled along the side of the YMCA and spilling out across the pavement between the Y and Rising Eagle.

The mural, a pulsating pattern extending toward the back of the Y, will be installed by Sage De La Cruz. It will be part of a complete updating of Central Terrace in an effort by the city to activate more of its outdoor space.

The city will close off the curb that had allowed vehicles to take ill-advised travels through the narrow alley. Flowerbeds have been temporarily beautifying the way and blocking off traffic.

With no traffic to worry about, the city will use grant money to put out furniture and install lighting, making it suitable for outdoor dining.

"That's kind of our goal, to attract people in," City Planner Denise Gaffey said.

The city was moving ahead with those changes with or without the mural, which had appeared to run into trouble in a previous Historic District Commission. The commission, which is not an elected body, can essentially block changes to the historic downtown area.

The discussion continued Tuesday, with members sweating the long-term maintenance on the very old YMCA building and concerned the pavement portion will be subject to a lot of wear and tear.

"My biggest fear is it's going to look great for a period of time, then when it doesn't look good what do you do," said commissioner member Michael Coleman.

"I'd be a lot less reluctant if it was on the Rising Eagle wall," member Richard Curl, the lone dissenting vote, said.

The Turner family, which owns the Rising Eagle along with their namesake seafood restaurant across the street, didn't appear at the meeting. It was said there had been some concern an earlier design looked too modern for their old-school publick house-style business. (Gaffey also said Rising Eagle has plans for a patio in the back.)

Eventually the current design was settled on in an alleyway desperate for some pizzaz.

"I would love to see some vitality to it," member Kevin Erb said. "It's kind of drab."

The mural is expected to begin this fall, perhaps as early as October.

Mike Carraggi can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @PatchCarraggi and Instagram at Melrose Happening. Subscribe to Melrose Patch for free local news and alerts and like us on Facebook.