phantom tollbooths in Davis Sq. ...

[an-art-worker.livejournal.com]

apropos of nothing and not a serious proposal but I was thinking about sales taxes last night, the discussion of tolls on 93 south and something to do with all the border violence going on in the world these days. Suddenly I had this image of tollbooths/checkpoints on the roads entering Davis Sq. Weird but interesting to speculate on.

The growth in popularity of the sq. has brought higher rents and housing prices, higher prices in stores and bars and general gentrification. The city of Somerville and the property owners benefit but the residents don't. Would be interesting to have a toll that went to offset the costs of gentrification to people who actually live here.

Comments

Re: A healthy commercial district is a slow district

[an-art-worker.livejournal.com]

But as you say - that is income "for the city" - it has no benefit to us minions (cool people who cause others to flock to wherever we are... lol). The issue of traffic congestion is a bit separate from my initial post about somehow "trickling down" the popularity of the sq. to thos of us who for one reason or another have been here a long time and still rent.

On a separate note @ meters: anyone know the deal with Gargoyles taking over that little parking lot behind the liquor store after 8 pm? It's been that way for years and I always wondered if they were paying or if it was some kind of glad-handing.

Re: A healthy commercial district is a slow district

[artic-monkeys.livejournal.com]

The city generates $13,000 in library fines, $40,000 in ordinance violations and licenses like the liquor license but 6 or 7 million in parking fees and fines. They can fund city services with this revenue and keep property taxes down. Keeping rents down.

Re: A healthy commercial district is a slow district

[ron_newman]

I think it's actually the other way around -- the lot is privately owned, but leased to the city for public metered parking before 8 pm.