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.