Davis Square Task Force Meeting

[billharnois.livejournal.com]

So there was a Davis Square Task Force meeting last night. I missed it. Can anyone give us the minutes or a summary? Sounds like lots of interesting things were on the agenda.

Comments

[ron_newman]

I took some notes and will try to post a summary tonight. (But if anyone else was there, feel free to beat me to it.)

[clevernonsense.livejournal.com]

TELL US ABOUT SACCO'S NOW

:)

[ron_newman]

There's not much to say about Sacco's, really. Joe Sacco came to the meeting, said that he wanted to stay open but was not making much money, and asked people for suggestions on how to get more people into his bowling alley.

He mentioned that because he's on a small side street, many potential customers don't even know the place exists, or discover it by accident.

I thought he'd make a pitch for food service or a liquor license, but he didn't. Not yet, anyway.

The Someday Cafe folks came over to talk to Joe after the formal meeting ended. Maybe some synergy could occur here.

[billharnois.livejournal.com]

what about the bike path extension, or 400 Highland? And I assume that Halloween store won't be there forever right?

[ron_newman]

Three Cambridge police officers are trying to reopen 400 Highland as a "modern" Italian restaurant (that is, reflecting what today's Italians eat as opposed to what Italians ate when their families immigrated here a century ago).

The "bike path extension" discussion was really a discussion of how to route the bike path through Davis Square, closing the gap between Brooks Pharmacy and Seven Hills Park. These plans are still somewhat speculative and require buy-in from the MBTA, which hasn't happened yet.

[ukelele.livejournal.com]

Any interesting proposals? Their current non-solution certainly bugs me every time I deal with it (I love the "no biking" icons posted on the coupla yards between the obvious bike path in Seven Hills, and the obvious road, right along the obvious place to bike! because dismounting for a few yards is something that is so logical for everyone to do. so I hope someone has a less dumb idea).

[billharnois.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I would really like to know what these proposals are. Is there any info online anywhere? I take the path to work, and it really bugs me that there is no solution at all.

[surrealestate.livejournal.com]

The Halloween store was there for a month last year and then was gone. The only reason it's there now is that for reasons unnown, the owners have let the place remain vacant. Trust me, noone is more surprised to have Halloween Scream back than the guy who runs the place.

[plumtreeblossom.livejournal.com]

I'm going to make a separate post about this. I'll link to your reply here, if that's okay. And thanks for bringing us the news, Ron. There are almost 900 people in this LJ community -- maybe we can send a little bit of business Sacco's way.

[ron_newman]

That's fine. Were you at the meeting too?

[plumtreeblossom.livejournal.com]

No, I wasn't there and wouldn't have known if you hadn't posted. I'd thought Sacco's was doing a booming business. I'm sad for them now. Maybe spreading the word here will bring them a few new (or old prodigal) bowlers.

[ron_newman]

Oh, and in case anyone here doesn't know what we're talking about: Sacco's Bowl-Haven, 45 Day Street, kitty-corner from the post office. Fifteen candlepin lanes and eight pool tables.

notes from the rest of the meeting

[ron_newman]

Here are some notes I took at yesterday's meeting. They are not necessarily complete and certainly not official minutes.

Someday Cafe: Not much news to report yet. The Cafe folks have run into resistance from landlords who don't want food service in their buildings. They will temporarily set up a morning coffee service at Razzy's, 585 Somerville Ave, but are still waiting for some equipment deliveries before they can start this.

The HONK! Festival takes place all afternoon, outdoors, on Saturday, October 7, following the Somerville Homeless Coalition 5K road race. At least 12 different New Orleans-style brass bands will perform at four different outdoor locations around the Square.

Also on Saturday, October 7 is a benefit concert called Bridging the Gulf, to benefit the people of Gulfport, Mississippi who are still recovering from Hurricane Katrina. That's at the Somerville Theatre at 8 pm.

Wall of Respect for Women: A community meeting to discuss a new mural will take place on Tuesday, October 3 at 6:30 pm at Ciampa Manor, 27 College Avenue.

One Davis Square: Demolition begins next week and will take about three weeks. Construction of the new building will begin around December 1st. The barricades on streets and sidewalks shold be gone by mid-spring of 2007, and construction finished by September 1, 2007.

West Coast Video site: Poor Little Rich Girl expects to open within six weeks. Their lease on the existing 416 Highland Avenue store runs through next March, so for a few months, they'll probably operate both stores. The nail salon next door will probably expand into the Highland Avenue store once Poor Little Rich Girl's lease expires.

Buck-A-Book: Sorry, no news to report, other than the temporary return of Halloween Scream.
Mini-Mart, next door: No news to report, though I saw a worker walking into the storefront a few days ago, who claimed it was being fitted out for H & R Block.

Space next to Antonia's, formerly a hair salon: No news to report.

400 Highland Ave: may become an Italian restaurant; see my earlier comments above.

Citizens Bank building: Arrow Street architecture firm, which already occupies an upper floor, is temporarily expanding its offices onto the vacant first floor. This is to accommodate a short-term project, and probably will not last more than a year. There is still a court case in progress regarding the city's earlier rejection of restaurant uses for this space (e.g. Mr. Crepe). All parties have finished presenting their arguments in Land Court, and everyone now awaits the judge's ruling.

Bike path extension through Davis: See my earlier comments above.

Sacco's Bowl-Haven: See my earlier comments above.

Middlesex Bank 'zipper' sign: Because this overhangs a public way, city law requires approval by the Board of Aldermen, and this has not happened. Alderman Rebekah Gewirtz informed the bank of this, and they immediately turned off the sign. The bank has not approached the Aldermen asking for approval, so Rebekah will contact the bank and suggest that they attend the next Davis Square Task Force meeting.

Next meeting is tentatively scheduled for Monday, October 23, at 167 Holland Street. If you want to get e-mail alerts about future meetings and agendas, please contact Alderman Rebekah Gewirtz at 617-718-0792, rebekah@rcn.com, or Chris Daveta at (617) 625-6600 x2500, cdaveta@ci.somerville.ma.us .