Meet Wednesday to discuss Davis Square's future

[ron_newman]

The Davis Square Task Force will meet this Wednesday evening to discuss various topics regarding the future of Davis Square:

- Do we want a Quizno's sub shop where Disc Diggers used to be?
- Would 2 a.m. bar closings be good or bad for our neighborhood?
- What should go into the square's empty storefronts (such as Buck-a-Book and the Citizens Bank building), and how can we help get them filled?

If these subjects interest you, come to our meeting Wednesday, starting at 7 pm, at 167 Holland Street (the Tufts Administration Building, about 5 minutes' walk west from the Square). This is also a good opportunity to meet your new Ward 6 Alderman, Rebekah Gewirtz. Hope to see some LJ'ers there.

The Davis Square Task Force has been around since the late 1970s, when it was first organized to deal with the Red Line extension's impact on the neighborhood. However, it's had a low profile and low attendance in recent months. This posting is a pitch for some new folks to get involved.

Comments

[simone-magpie.livejournal.com]

I won't be able to make the meeting, but am definitely interested in attending future Davs Square task Force meetings. I'm one of the co-owners of Magpie (www.magpie-store.com) (a small, independent shoppe) and we're all very interested in the goings-on of Davis Square. Thanks for posting.

[two-stabs.livejournal.com]

For what it's worth...

We've got enough eateries;

2 a.m. at the minimum!;

Something small business.

[miss-chance.livejournal.com]

I cannot even verbalize how desperately I would love a Trader Joes in the Buck-a-Book space.

[ron_newman]

At a Task Force meeting last year, I told the redeveloper of One Davis Square that we didn't need a CVS, we need a Trader Joe's. He said that Trader Joe's wouldn't come here because there's no parking. Which doesn't make sense to me -- they're on Boylston Street in the Back Bay, which definitely has no parking.

[ayelle.livejournal.com]

Not a whole lot of convenient parking to speak of in Coolidge Corner, either.

But I need a CVS! The pharmacies at CVS-es have served me well for many years now. What are the other pharmacy options in the square?

[ron_newman]

There's a Brooks Pharmacy in Davis Square, and a CVS a 10-minute walk away in Porter Square. So the Davis Square CVS is going to be totally redundant.

[ayelle.livejournal.com]

That makes sense.

[plumtreeblossom.livejournal.com]

Trader Joes

Word!

If not them, some other food market like them.

[four-thorns.livejournal.com]

hmm... do you think that would hurt business at mckinnon's or the italian grocery store next to la contessa? because those places are awesome, and i'd hate to see anything happen to them.

[surrealestate.livejournal.com]

I only wish those places sold the stuff I'd buy at TJs.

I'd love to see an whole foods/organic type place in the Square, personally.

[ukelele.livejournal.com]

There's one in Arlington (just past the end of the 77 bus) and one in Cambridge (a longish walk from Central). They may feel the area is already adequately served, especially since Trader Joe's is the sort of destination store people will travel to.

[la-ti-da.livejournal.com]

agree. davis needs a grocery store. preferrably health foods. mckinnon's and the italian grocery seem specialty enough that they could all co-exist.

[la-ti-da.livejournal.com]

p.s. i feel like trader joe's would get -so- much business in davis. but i guess i don't know about marketing and all these things. i would definetly shop there. as would all my roomates (who currently shop at shaw's b/c it's the closest).

[laklare.livejournal.com]

Or even better: a grocery store that actually sells vegetables and instead of TJ's 90% processed foods.

groceries, not too far from the square

[ron_newman]

For that, you might want to check out Pemberton Farms, on Mass. Ave. at Day Street.

Re: groceries, not too far from the square

[turil.livejournal.com]

There's also the little grocery store next to Goodwill that has a surprising amount of fresh fruit and veggies, and they have some Indian food too.

[cos]

I may not be able to come to the meeting. If I miss it, I'd appreciate if someone passed this along: I desperately miss Dolly's, and I think the biggest lack in today's Davis Square is late night food - by which I mean, 2am-6am.

[two-stabs.livejournal.com]

Hear hear.

please do come

[ron_newman]

If you or anyone else want to advocate for late-night eateries, it's important to show up.

Historically, the Task Force has been dominated by the sort of folks who don't want that sort of thing in the Square. The city listens closely to what goes on in Task Force meetings, and if what they hear is "no overnight businesses", that's what they'll act on. So if you have a different point of view, come to the meeting and say it.

[yangelina.livejournal.com]

The only eatery that I really miss is Mr. Crepes. :\
Thank you for posting this - I'll see about making the meeting.

TJs /CVS /Late night food

[cleanup-davissq.livejournal.com]

I think Trader Joes would get staggering business. I used to live in Coolidge Corner and even though it does have a small (20 car) parking lot at the rear of the store, the vast majority of business was from people on foot -I know -we used to carry 2 bags each about 1/2 mile no problem.

CVS is ugly and ubiquitous. Brooks is only down the street with all the parking you could want. I don't think it will suit the square to have a garish flourescent-illuminated plastic signed CVS on the main street.

Late night food? Dude, pick up the phone if you are at a late night, neighbor annoying student party. Late night eateries attract people who are in the munchie phase of post-alcohol euphoria. Do we want their noise and loitering? It also gives them the stamina to saunter home causing more neighborly disruption.

Ditto on Mr. Crepes. What a loss.

Burre? I love the Burren -but you make enough as it is -stop wanting it all.

Quiznos? you're kiddin'? Next...