Wynn proposes footbridge over Mystic River

[keithn.livejournal.com]

In an interesting development that is sure to put the mayor in an awkward position, Wynn wants to build a footbridge over the Mystic river to connect the Wynn casino site to Assembly Square. I know the possibility of a bridge has had support from people who don't even plan on visiting the casino, but according to our mayor: “A footbridge would benefit Steve Wynn and Steve Wynn only."

Read more at http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2015/11/12/wynn-resorts-footbridge-span-mystic/2i7jPr6hCYwSjTCsWwoxpI/story.html

Comments

[ron_newman]

Which businesses has Somerville been unfriendly towards?

[vanguardcdk.livejournal.com]

There was the Ocean State Job Lot brouhaha a few years ago:
http://www.boston.com/business/articles/2011/01/15/somerville_property_owner_says_mayors_vision_blocked_new_store/

[keithn.livejournal.com]

Tenoch was blocked for a month by (I believe) the ZBA. Now the inside has been finished for a couple of weeks but they are still not open and say they are waiting on inspections. I wouldn't exactly call that business friendly.

Also, the shameful way they chased Beer Works away a couple of years ago wasn't business friendly. Then the business that the city wanted in that space pulled out after months of wrangling over construction easements by neighboring landowners (the city's lack of action is the problem here).

How about how they kept delaying and delaying the Crunch Gym application until they pulled out?

Then you have a lawsuit filed against the city over arbitrary decisions related to land use, which the city lost: https://lawoftheland.wordpress.com/2012/06/25/ma-land-court-finds-that-board-may-not-refuse-request-to-divide-property-into-two-lots-where-such-use-is-permitted-as-of-right/

I doubt you'll hear complaints from established businesses because they will fear retaliation from the city.

[ron_newman]

nitpick correction: it was the Licensing Commission, not the ZBA. Since there was no change of use (one restaurant replacing another), there was no zoning issue.

[paradoox.livejournal.com]

The Stained Glass Studio next to NESFA moved out of Somerville in part because of what the owner thought of Somerville's policies.

I would also point out that cities interested in helping business and restaurants (like say Waltham) have gotten rid of parking meters while Somerville now has them running until 8 PM at night.

Also, bogus rules about having dumpsters locked between 11 PM at night and 7 AM in the morning; because clearly
a) locks keeps rats out
b) rats are only active between 11 PM and 7 AM.

[ron_newman]

If you get rid of parking meters, that may well make parking for restaurants more difficult, not easier.

[paradoox.livejournal.com]

That's not what Waltham has found.

[clevernonsense.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I have mostly stopped going to Somerville because of their meters and ticketing. You don't get enough time to actually go out for dinner/drinks, the meters run so late, they ticket within seconds of meters expiring, etc. I can't really access Davis by public transit easily, so I just don't go. At least in Cambridge I'm able to go, feed the meter for the last hour it's on, and know I'm good for the night.

[boblothrope.livejournal.com]

More and more of Cambridge has meters until 8 pm.

It started in Harvard Square. Then they expanded it to Kendall. And most recently up Mass Ave from Harvard to slightly past Porter.

[mindstalk.livejournal.com]

It's what a lot of other places have found. Free parking is often taken up by business employees, not customers. Two hour free or cheap parking is taken up by employees who swap spots. Properly priced parking means available spaces for customers and higher turnover.

Old Pasadena renovated by putting in parking meters and using the revenue for improvements. Westwood has (had?) free parking and has been decaying over the same period.

[paradoox.livejournal.com]

Well, that's what you think, but the restaurant scene in Waltham seems to me to be doing better than the restaurant scene in Somerville. I know which one I go to when I want an enjoyable evening out.

[ron_newman]

Has Waltham really gotten rid of parking meters? Their web site has a whole section about parking meters. I thought you had to pay to park in the city garage next to the Embassy Cinema.

[paradoox.livejournal.com]

You are correct, the lots are metered but the streets (esp Main and Moody Streeets) are not metered. (I had forgotten about that because I rarely if ever need to park in one of the lots.)

[mindstalk.livejournal.com]

Waltham is 1/4 the population density of Somerville, and there's lots of general evidence against cheap/free parking being good for business, or meters being a killer. What customers like is *available* parking, which is obviously more of a challenge at higher density. Sensible parking rates (and Somerville's meters are probably far to cheap in the business districts) keep spaces open.

[boblothrope.livejournal.com]

Average population density across a city is not a meaningful statistic. What matters is *local* population density. Waltham is rather dense near the center. It doesn't make it easier to park there if there's woodsy parkland two miles north.