Davis Square Task Force agenda for Wed 6/28

[ron_newman]

The Davis Square Task Force will meet Wedneday, June 28 from 7-9pm in the Tufts Administration Building, 167 Holland St. Everyone is invited. Here is the agenda. (I didn't write it up, I'm just passing it on from Chris Daveta, CDAVETA@ci.somerville.ma.us)

7:00-7:10 - Intros

7:10-7:25 - Adam Dash presentation on project next to the Bike Path

7:25-7:30 - Brief update on bike path plans with MBTA

7:30-7:45- DARBI [Davis Area Resident-Business Initiative] Update

7:45-8:00 - Michele Bisoce: Som|Dog presentation about off-leash areas
on bike path

8:00-8:30 - Traffic in Davis Square - Mark Chase, Davis resident and
traffic consultant to present (continued from previous meeting)

8:30-8:40 - Sara Rosenfeld about Community Servings

8:40-8:50 - Dunkin' Donuts' possible proposal for 24 hours
Mr. Crepe coming to Someday Café site

8:50-8:55 - Sign at Middlesex Bank in Davis Sq.

8:55-9:00 - Wrap up and next meeting

Comments

[push-stars.livejournal.com]

I don't know about one particular opinion, but my perspective has definitely changed. What you are saying about crime is true in as far as you can maintain the kind of local community you have now in the process. Influxes of chain stores and new businesses along with opening them later at night can change your demographic, and help contribute to more anonymity and more crime. If local people can form the casual relationships upon which trust can grow and help prevent crime then you are right. So even though I can understand your point I can still see how it may also still be a concern for people who live in nearby quiet neighborhoods. Families in the nearby houses may be accustomed to quite nights without traffic, cabs and sirens and crowds of people walking outside of their windows. Or perhaps they all feel the same way as you?

[chumbolly.livejournal.com]

Davis is definitely not seedy, but there's room to improve. Assembly Square REALLY needs improvement, but the current plans to plop down a multi-use housing/shopping/office mecca would do nothing to satisfy Jane Jacobs if she were still alive. Actually, come to think of it, I personally saw Jane Jacobs tear into an urban planner who was touting the plans for Assembly Square as being "oh-so-great" and "Jacobian." She had to explain to the hapless planner that he completely misunderstood a lot of her theories. Even in their best iteration, the redevelopment plans call for large-scale, complete redevelopment based on large parcels and excessive green space. Jacobs always emphasized keeping old buildings (because old buildings tend to be run-down and cheap, and therefore affordable to new businesses) and keeping a walkable street pattern. Diversity of uses is a step in the right direction, but there must also be a diversity of age and economics. Green space becomes a place for trash and crime if its not tightly surrounded by a vibrant urban area. The key idea is people, people, people. Don't fear their presence, encourage it.

[cleanup-davissq.livejournal.com]

Is it coming down to renters versus owners?

The 'convenience' of getting 4am bread and milk verses people talking loudly getting the "drunk munchies"

The 'convenience' of drinking in a bar until 3am verses half empty beer glasses deposited on top of mail boxes

The 'convenience' of renting and not really caring about being quiet verses owners investing in an area and old time residents who do not want Davis to become seedy like Allston.

[ron_newman]

Nobody's talking about extending bar hours to 3 am -- as I said, I'm pretty sure state law doesn't allow that.

[push-stars.livejournal.com]

No it should be a partnership of different perspectives working together to make things better for the whole community. And be careful a lot of renters like Ron here care more about Somerville than a lot of home owners. Espcially abasantee owners that don't take care of their properties.

[cleanup-davissq.livejournal.com]

Agreed!
Absentee landlords that neglect their property are the worst!!!

Intersection-dweller seeks quiet

[futurenerd.livejournal.com]

If you are that adamant about peace and quiet, why are you living right on one of the busiest squares in town? I like quiet, too, just not always at the same times as you. And, I moved to a quiet street. To be fair, when you move into a place based on the rules in existence there, there is an expectation that they won't change capriciously.

A change that made Davis Square into a place where nobody wanted to live, would be a loss. Having good people living there is a part of that liveliness we're all talking about.

Maybe some of the concerns that have been raised, like taxis and people making noise, could be addressed individually.