We may not be getting a new library (yes, I'm still very, very bitter about that), but there's still a thriving and growing cultural/arts community here in Saxonville. See part of it for yourself the weekend of April 9-10, noon to 5 pm both days, when more than a dozen artists at the Saxonville mills.
See more information at the Saxonville Studios Web site.
In other exciting local cultural news, the Amazing Things Arts Center appears close to opening in the Pinefield shopping center, just across the street from the mill complex.
March 31, 2005
Minuteman Bike Path’s Appeal
"The Minuteman Bikeway offers far more than just a place to work up a sweat," notes this Associated Press piece on the bike path. "The 11-mile route through Boston's northwestern suburbs also provides quiet refuge, natural beauty, a commuting alternative and a chance to see where blood was first spilled in the American Revolution."
And it's very heavily used -- one of the busiest in the U.S., with an estimated 2 million users each year. It helps that the trail goes through populated areas yet still has a "bucolic feel;" and that people can use it to get to the Alewife T station, where they can pick up the Red Line to head to Cambridge.
"Initially there was a fear of having people riding adjacent to your back lot. But I think those fears have been dispelled," according to Richard Warrington, Bedford's public works director.
Hopefully, the Cochituate Rail Trail will soon join Minuteman as a recreational and transportation path in the western suburbs. It will be great if the path can connect to shopping centers and the commuter rail.
And it's very heavily used -- one of the busiest in the U.S., with an estimated 2 million users each year. It helps that the trail goes through populated areas yet still has a "bucolic feel;" and that people can use it to get to the Alewife T station, where they can pick up the Red Line to head to Cambridge.
"Initially there was a fear of having people riding adjacent to your back lot. But I think those fears have been dispelled," according to Richard Warrington, Bedford's public works director.
Hopefully, the Cochituate Rail Trail will soon join Minuteman as a recreational and transportation path in the western suburbs. It will be great if the path can connect to shopping centers and the commuter rail.
How Wal-Mart Gets Around Anti-Sprawl Zoning
"Wal-Mart, the world's largest retailer, is employing a new tactic to get around a Maryland town ordinance that limits store sizes — build two outlets right next to each other," Associated Press reports. "Wal-Mart will build adjacent stores in Dunkirk, Md. with one outlet being constructed so that it will be just under the 75,000 square-foot limit."
Well isn't that special.
In a way, it almost reminds me of developers who build one mall right next to another one, in order to skirt terms of their leases with existing anchor stores - regardless of whether this makes for an unpleasant pedestrian ambiance that makes no sense. Like in Natick.
Thanks to Timothy Lee for passing along that nugget.
Well isn't that special.
In a way, it almost reminds me of developers who build one mall right next to another one, in order to skirt terms of their leases with existing anchor stores - regardless of whether this makes for an unpleasant pedestrian ambiance that makes no sense. Like in Natick.
Thanks to Timothy Lee for passing along that nugget.
March 29, 2005
Workshop on the Community Preservation Act
Several regional planning groups are sponsoring a workshop on the Massachusetts Community Preservation Act after five years, with local leaders from Sudbury, Ashland, Bedford, Acton, Wayland, Hopkinton and elsewhere talking about how they got resident support for the act and then used Act funding to improve their communities.
Ironically, although Framingham voters turned down participating in the program, the workshop will be held at Framingham town hall "to accommodate communities all along the I-495 corridor." Ah yes, even as I'm still bitterly disappointed over the loss of a new branch library building and Framingham losing 25% state funding for what would have been a fabulous new building to anchor the Saxonville business district, now I can remember how we lost out on another important program that could have renovated buildings, improved parks, etc. It just gets better and better!
Anyway, for those who are interested, the workshop, sponsored by the MetroWest Growth Management Committee (MWGMC) and the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) , among others, is this Thursday, March 31 at 7 pm.
Ironically, although Framingham voters turned down participating in the program, the workshop will be held at Framingham town hall "to accommodate communities all along the I-495 corridor." Ah yes, even as I'm still bitterly disappointed over the loss of a new branch library building and Framingham losing 25% state funding for what would have been a fabulous new building to anchor the Saxonville business district, now I can remember how we lost out on another important program that could have renovated buildings, improved parks, etc. It just gets better and better!
Anyway, for those who are interested, the workshop, sponsored by the MetroWest Growth Management Committee (MWGMC) and the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) , among others, is this Thursday, March 31 at 7 pm.
March 28, 2005
Questions A Successful Planner Asks
"Peter Armato has been credited with resurrecting historic Savannah's beloved Broughton Street, a once-lifeless business district that currently thrives. He got people out of their cars in 1940s-era Bellevue, Wash., and created a downtown where folks can stroll from bookstore to gallery," notes the Sun Sentinel in describing the man now charged with revitalizing West Palm Beach's declining business center.
According to the paper, he will judge his success by answering questions such as, "Is downtown safer? Cleaner? Do more people live there? How many more visitors does it have than when he started? How many shops have located there? What kind of shops are they?"
He attracts shoppers to a downtown business district in part by creating a pedestrian-appealing environment. "In Bellevue, near Seattle, he brought pedestrian-friendly events to a city built for automobiles." He also seeks full support from communitiy leaders. "Two years ago, he was the top choice to direct the Downtown Development Authority in Shreveport, La., but withdrew because there wasn't unanimous support from local officials," the article says.
It's also important to note that he's not simply interested in attracting "stores" to a downtown area, but is very concerned about achieving the proper mix of retail. That's as true in downtown Framingham as it is in downtown West Palm Beach, by the way. If you want to make downtown a destination, where people linger and don't merely drive through, there has to be an appealing streetscape and a good and attractive mix of stores and services. Shopping malls plan their retail mix and store placement very carefully. If downtowns want to compete, they need to pay more attention to this, too.
According to the paper, he will judge his success by answering questions such as, "Is downtown safer? Cleaner? Do more people live there? How many more visitors does it have than when he started? How many shops have located there? What kind of shops are they?"
He attracts shoppers to a downtown business district in part by creating a pedestrian-appealing environment. "In Bellevue, near Seattle, he brought pedestrian-friendly events to a city built for automobiles." He also seeks full support from communitiy leaders. "Two years ago, he was the top choice to direct the Downtown Development Authority in Shreveport, La., but withdrew because there wasn't unanimous support from local officials," the article says.
It's also important to note that he's not simply interested in attracting "stores" to a downtown area, but is very concerned about achieving the proper mix of retail. That's as true in downtown Framingham as it is in downtown West Palm Beach, by the way. If you want to make downtown a destination, where people linger and don't merely drive through, there has to be an appealing streetscape and a good and attractive mix of stores and services. Shopping malls plan their retail mix and store placement very carefully. If downtowns want to compete, they need to pay more attention to this, too.
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