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davis_squareThe Davis Square Task Force met on Wednesday, December 6, with this agenda. I took some notes, which as always are entirely unofficial and subject to my own bias:
The Davis Area Business-Resident Initiative (DARBI), still in formation, will incorporate as a 501c4. This means that contributions to it will not be tax-exempt, but it will have a freer hand in advocating politically for the interests of its members. The YourDavisSquare.com web site is on its way. Next meeting is Tuesday, December 12 at 7 pm at 30 College Ave.
The Somerville Theatre has applied for a liquor license. They would like to serve one kind of beer, one kind of red wine, and one kind of white wine to patrons before movies and live shows, and during intermissions. They will use a separate counter to sell these, not the regular concession stand. Only one drink per customer, and no sales after 11 pm. This will allow the theatre to compete better for shows with venues in Boston.
Even though they will sell only beer and wine, they need to apply for an "all forms" license because they do not qualify for a "beer and wine only" license. (They are not a restaurant and they have way too many seats.)
Some people at the meeting suggested adding additional restrictions such as "no sales before 6 pm" or "sales for live shows only", but a show of hands rejected these. Ultimately everyone decided to endorse the theatre's license application. It will be heard at the Licensing Commission meeting on Monday, December 18 at 6 pm at the Somerville Police Station.
The Buena Vista parking garage, owned by the city but leased to the Harvard Vanguard medical building, "is a scary place" with crumbling cement that has fallen on a car. Some spaces have been blocked off for safety reasons. The city has approved $150,000 to improve it but this will be "only a patch". Discussion is ongoing with the building owner about possible use of the garage at night as paid public parking or employee parking.
Middlesex Federal Savings has made its sign less bright, with slower-moving text, and more local news. If you'd like to place a notice on the sign, e-mail generalmail@middlesexfederal.com .
Sacco's Bowl-Haven and the Someday Cafe folks are still talking about how to work together; no news to report yet.
Jack Connolly and Lee Auspitz proposed to change Davis Square zoning to require all businesses (not just bars) to close by 1 am. This was prompted by The Burren's application for a 2 am liquor license. Connolly was alderman for ward 6 until this year, and is running for Alderman-at-Large in the upcoming special election. Alderman Gewirtz said she had talked to the City Solicitor, who believes that the zoning law cannot be used for this purpose.
Ward 7 Alderman Bob Trane said that PJ Ryan's 2 am license in Teele Square had not caused any problems for that neighborhood. They do not allow people to enter after 1 am, limit what is served after 1 am, and close their windows at 10 pm to avoid creating noise problems. However, PJ Ryan's is a much smaller establishment than The Burren.
Next meeting will be Monday, February 26, 2007.
The Davis Area Business-Resident Initiative (DARBI), still in formation, will incorporate as a 501c4. This means that contributions to it will not be tax-exempt, but it will have a freer hand in advocating politically for the interests of its members. The YourDavisSquare.com web site is on its way. Next meeting is Tuesday, December 12 at 7 pm at 30 College Ave.
The Somerville Theatre has applied for a liquor license. They would like to serve one kind of beer, one kind of red wine, and one kind of white wine to patrons before movies and live shows, and during intermissions. They will use a separate counter to sell these, not the regular concession stand. Only one drink per customer, and no sales after 11 pm. This will allow the theatre to compete better for shows with venues in Boston.
Even though they will sell only beer and wine, they need to apply for an "all forms" license because they do not qualify for a "beer and wine only" license. (They are not a restaurant and they have way too many seats.)
Some people at the meeting suggested adding additional restrictions such as "no sales before 6 pm" or "sales for live shows only", but a show of hands rejected these. Ultimately everyone decided to endorse the theatre's license application. It will be heard at the Licensing Commission meeting on Monday, December 18 at 6 pm at the Somerville Police Station.
The Buena Vista parking garage, owned by the city but leased to the Harvard Vanguard medical building, "is a scary place" with crumbling cement that has fallen on a car. Some spaces have been blocked off for safety reasons. The city has approved $150,000 to improve it but this will be "only a patch". Discussion is ongoing with the building owner about possible use of the garage at night as paid public parking or employee parking.
Middlesex Federal Savings has made its sign less bright, with slower-moving text, and more local news. If you'd like to place a notice on the sign, e-mail generalmail@middlesexfederal.com .
Sacco's Bowl-Haven and the Someday Cafe folks are still talking about how to work together; no news to report yet.
Jack Connolly and Lee Auspitz proposed to change Davis Square zoning to require all businesses (not just bars) to close by 1 am. This was prompted by The Burren's application for a 2 am liquor license. Connolly was alderman for ward 6 until this year, and is running for Alderman-at-Large in the upcoming special election. Alderman Gewirtz said she had talked to the City Solicitor, who believes that the zoning law cannot be used for this purpose.
Ward 7 Alderman Bob Trane said that PJ Ryan's 2 am license in Teele Square had not caused any problems for that neighborhood. They do not allow people to enter after 1 am, limit what is served after 1 am, and close their windows at 10 pm to avoid creating noise problems. However, PJ Ryan's is a much smaller establishment than The Burren.
Next meeting will be Monday, February 26, 2007.
no subject
Date: 2006-12-18 07:54 pm (UTC)The real motivation behind this proposal is to block 2 am liquor licenses. But this is the wrong way to do that, even if you think that's a worthwhile goal.