Task Force Meeting Last Night

[magpie-leah.livejournal.com]

Last night I went to my first Davis Square Task force meeting and I just have to say how interesting it was and how impressed I was by it all. It's great to know how many residents are so invested in the community and Rebekah did a great job leading the discussions. As a Davis Sq store owner I look forward to going to more of these meetings and getting a little more involved in any way I can.

P.S. The next meeting is scheduled for 7pm on Wednesday, February 22nd, also at 167 Holland Street (upstairs and to the left).

Comments

[ilhander.livejournal.com]

Forgive my ignorance, but what's the Task Force, and what does it do?

[magpie-leah.livejournal.com]

I'm sure someone here can describe it better but here's what it says on this web page:

http://bershad.com/gb/davis-square/DavisSq_moreinfo.html

"In 1977, while the Red Line Extension was in the planning stage, the Somerville Office of Planning and Community Development (OPCD) and the Metropolitan Area Planning Council put together the first Davis Square urban design and business study. That same year, the Davis Square Task Force was formed, composed of local business owners, residents and local officials, to act as a citizens’ advisory committee regarding the revitalization plans and to address a major concern that was dividing the community on the type and extent of development."

[ron_newman]

Gallery Bershad has been gone from the Square for years. (They were in the Dover Plaza building.) I'm amazed they've left their web site up so long.

[cos]

There was a post here on this community earlier this week inviting people to the task force meeting, that drew a lot of comments. Take a look.

[plumtreeblossom.livejournal.com]

Good to hear you went! What were some of the things they discussed?

[ron_newman]

The discussion was pretty much what I advertised here a few days ago. More specifically:

- Nobody wanted the Quizno's. The owner of the Sovereign Bank building next door especially didn't want it, since it would mean a dumpster out back and a vent fan blowing directly at his office, preventing him from opening any of his windows in the summertime. I asked what Quizno's would bring us that we didn't already have in Davis Square, and the answer was weak. A straw poll taken after the Quizno's discussion was something like 0 in favor, 26 against, 4 or 5 abstentions.

- The Burren's request for a 2 a.m. closing also did not get a warm reception. Everyone acknowledges that the Burren is a well-run business that doesn't cause any problems for the neighborhood, but lots of people fear that if the city grants one such license, they'll eventually have to grant the same license to everyone else in Davis Square who applies for one. One of the Burren's representatives didn't help her case by saying that she wanted exactly that to happen.

- The discussion of vacant storefronts was interesting but not especially well-focused, and didn't come to any firm conclusion. It was suggested that the Davis Square business association try to present some kind of united position at a later meeting. I'm not sure how organized this association is, if it even really exists.

[cos]

You might want to add to your post that the next meeting is scheduled for 7pm on Wednesday, February 22nd, also at 167 Holland Street (upstairs and to the left).

[magpie-leah.livejournal.com]

That's a good idea. I'll do that. But didn't she say Feb 15th? Did that change?

[cos]

She asked when is one month from today and someone said the 15th so she announced that, then I and someone else both pointed out that one month was actually the 22nd, so she re-announced that. So many people were up and talking by then, it was easy to hear one and not the other, but I assume an email will go out. It is the 22nd.

A little social direct action...

[cleanup-davissq.livejournal.com]

Hi everyone, I'm new to all this. I live in Davis and am from Ireland, work in Boston and would love to get involved in some direct action on the streets of Davis! I've started a Yahoo group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CleanUpDavisSquare/
and would love to get some people along to see if we can make some small changes once a week...

From the Yahoo Group:

"Davis Square is a great place to live. Lately though it seems to have gotten a little shabby with an increase in littering and graffiti. I'd love to meet up with a few people on a weekend morning (or covertly late at night!) and repaint graffiti on trashcans and doorways, pick up litter, plant flower seeds...whatever it takes to bring a nicer, cleaner environment to where we live. The city doesn't seem to have the will so let's take the initiative."

Re: A little social direct action...

[ron_newman]

I'm up for that, but you'll get more of a response if you make it a new post rather than just a comment here.

Re: A little social direct action...

[cleanup-davissq.livejournal.com]

Hi Ron, Thanks for your message.
I'm on this page:

http://community.livejournal.com/davis_square/

I have no idea how to post on it as a new entry -that's why I posted it as a comment.
your help would be appreciated. Thanks!
Brian

Re: A little social direct action...

[ron_newman]

Click on "livejournal userinfo" and then on the pencil icon to create a new posting.