Notes on 10/1 Davis Square Task Force meeting

[ron_newman]

As usual, I didn't take extensive notes, but here's what I remember. (Agenda here.)

DARBI (Davis Area Resident-Business Initiative) has about 96 members, two-thirds residents, one-third businesses. They will have a meeting Monday, October 22 at Johnny D's to talk about green initiatives for businesses.

The traffic study group is focusing on Willow Avenue, between Elm St. and Highland Avenue. You can read more about their work at http://willave.blogspot.com .

One Davis Square, with CVS and Boston Sports Club, should be open by November.

Nobody quite knows what's going to happen to the former Enterprise rent-a-car site at Summer St. and Cutter Ave.

135 Willow Ave (corner of Willow and Morrison) is finished except for "punch-list items". Some people have already moved in. Landscaping is in progress, including restoring the section of the Community Path right-of-way that was taken over for construction. A roof deck on the third floor is a remaining issue of contention between the city and the developer.

Carli Fence has relocated its operation to Medford, and sold its Somerville property to someone in Waltham. The new property owner wants to build 15 housing units. This would require a special permit with site plan review.

Summer Street Shaft Site (343-349 Summer St) - In 2002, the developer received a special permit with site-plan review to build a 4 1/2 story building with 14 units. Neighbors sued, claiming the permit was issued improperly and that the proposed development would harm their own properties in a variety of ways, including building right up to the lot line with no setback. The neighbors have lost their last appeal, so the developer is now entitled to build -- but only if he meets 15 conditions set by the city. The developer has not yet met these conditions.

Alderman-at-large Bill White talked about the increase in airplane noise over Somerville from Logan Airport. The new runway has added to the problem. Before it was built, arriving and departing planes often had to both use the same runway, limiting total traffic. Now planes can depart on the old runway and arrive on the new one at the same time. Somerville residents should complain to Massport at 617-561-3333 whenever there is excessive airplane noise.

Joe Sacco, owner of Sacco's Bowl-Haven, introduced Trish Blain, who will buy the bowling alley from him next spring. You can read more about her plans here. Neighbors expressed some concern about the proposed liquor license, since Sacco's is at the edge of a residential area. Ms. Blain would probably add a second story to the existing building.

The Burren received its permanent 2 am license on September 17. So far no problems have been reported, except for one noise complaint about people yelling on a street several blocks away after the bar closed. The Burren is no longer required to report back to each Task Force meeting. Some neighbors continued to express apprehension about whether more Davis Square bars would get 2 am licenses, turning the area into a 'destination' for people who want to drink late.

The Y-Not Variety store, at Willow and Morrison, has applied for a license to sell beer and wine. They have 130 signatures of support from customers. The store will continue to close at 8:30 each night.

The Buena Vista garage repair is nearly complete. The garage will close one more day, Friday October 12, to finish the work.

Next meeting will probably be Monday, December 3.

Comments

[enfa.livejournal.com]

Thanks Ron!

[mrf-arch.livejournal.com]

Thank you for helping spread the word!

Thanks, Ron!

[thunderjunkie.livejournal.com]

Thanks a lot for this report, Ron. I knew they were going to want to build condos at Carli Fence!! Hopefully, I'll be outta that apartment by the time they start the building.

[teko.livejournal.com]

Thanks, Ron!

It's frustrating to not know what'll happen with the old Enterprise site, as it's such a blight. Since it's currently home to a large Joe Curtatone banner, I'd assume that he or his staff has been in contact with the owner -- maybe he can be approached to see what can be done with a prime piece of property rather than let it sit fallow.

[afty.livejournal.com]

Thanks Ron, this was a very interesting and helpful summary.

[plumtreeblossom.livejournal.com]

Thabnks for taking such good notes and sharing them, Ron.

[hauntmeister.livejournal.com]

Thanks for being our eyes and ears!

[billharnois.livejournal.com]

I heard the person who bought the Carli Fence site wants to build 4 residential buildings that are in the shape of 4 letters: L O V E

So you can see it from the sky.