Evolution of Public Space in Davis Square

[count0.livejournal.com]

While doing some research on the history of development in Davis Square, I found this detailed study of how the community helped reshape Davis Square into a great public space. The organization that conducted the study is the Project for Public Spaces:

"The Project for Public Spaces is a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating and sustaining public places that build communities. They provide technical assistance, education, and research through programs in parks, plazas and central squares; buildings and civic architecture; transportation; and public markets."

Their website has lots of great information and practical advice for community activists on how to create and preserve great public spaces (like Davis Square!).

Does anyone know when/where the Davis Square Task Force meets? Sounds like a good forum for people to voice opinions and ideas.

Comments

[ceo]

Interesting. I wish they had some photos of Davis pre-T, however. Have you found any elsewhere?

Old photos

[count0.livejournal.com]

I've looked all over the place for old photos of Davis Square online. The only thing I found was an online slideshow of the history of Somerville (http://www.somervillepubliclibrary.org/LHslide.htm) from the Somerville Public Library. Pretty interesting (Bunker Hill Pickles?), and there is a single low-res picture on slide #48 of Davis Square in 1940. The slideshow doesn't seem to work with non Internet Explorer browsers, so here's the picture by itself. (http://www.somervillepubliclibrary.org/LHslide_files/slide0228_image092.jpg) Check out the huge pedestrian-hostile intersection and the giant circa 1904 automobiles barreling through...ouch!