CVS, Boston Sports Club coming to Davis

[ron_newman]

A month or two ago, the city approved conversion of One Davis Square (the yellow building between Dover and Day streets) into a three-story building. The first floor will be a CVS, the second a Boston Sports Club gym, and I think offices on the new third floor.
Construction will begin some time next year.

The owner decided to redevelop his building after the state welfare department (aka DTA, Department of Transitional Assistance) decided not to renew its lease. I am a little concerned about where they will move; many of the DTA's customers do not have cars, so Davis Square was an ideal place for their office. The building also houses some non-profits such as the Somerville Community Corp. and Somerville Haitian Coalition, which will also probably have to move out before construction starts.

Comments

[on-reserve.livejournal.com]

I don't understand what's unaccessible about buses. I see what's inconvenient but not unaccessible. I'm personally opposed to government agencies being located in expensive/high-rent areas; I find it a waste of money. I applauded when the new head of the RMV demanded that they move out of their overpriced Copley Square location. Less money on rent would hopefully mean more money in the budget for staff, assistance funding, program funding. I'd rather see the DTA offices somewhere still accessible but cheaper so they have more money in their budget to help more people.

[cutieperson]

have you ever tried using a bus while on crutches or in a wheelchair? it's not exactly easy, even with assistance, which many disabled folks do not have.

personally, i'd rather see owners of buildings provide social services with a break on rent instead of pushing them out of the area.

[on-reserve.livejournal.com]

I commuted for six months on crutches and found buses easier than trains. There are about three or four steps to get onto a bus. Subway stations have loads more stairs and often have broken escalators. Like I said, no one I know *likes* the bus. They come less often and you have to wait outside and they're often off-schedule but you know what ... I did it for four years to get to work, sometimes able-bodied. Sometimes not.

And people on the subway are no better about giving up a seat to the disabled. In fact, in my experience I'd say buses are better for getting a seat since it's easier to see a disabled person standing up since they don't blend into a crowd.

[talonvaki.livejournal.com]

I take the T. By which I mean, the subway trains.
I don't take buses.

I have a subway pass. It doesn't work on buses.

If something is "T Accessible" I take it to mean that the trains go there. "T and Bus Accessible" means both trains and buses go there.

[on-reserve.livejournal.com]

I'm not an idiot. I've lived here my whole life. If you have a T pass, you can pay 90 cents to take a bus. That doesn't make the bus inaccessible. No one I know *enjoys* taking the bus but they are perfectly valid way for people without a car to travel.

[jadelennox]

the older buses are much less elderly/disabled accessible than the trains (except the green line). The bus kneeling and wheelchair lifts are often broken; the bus drivers sometimes refuse to operate them; and the disabled person has to deal with the humiliation of having all the other passengers glare as they are shuffled around and made 10 minutes late. Also, while midday trains are usually uncrowded and therefore provide seating, midday buses are usually run at a frequency that makes them standing room only (on many lines). Not all disabled or elderly people are obviously in need of assistance, and so even well-meaning passengers don't know to give up their seats.

[siderea]

I don't understand what's unaccessible about buses.

My impression from my blind friends is that unless one has a guide dog, they're somewhere between nightmarish to unusable.