More Fast Food in Davis?

[chris5.livejournal.com]

The Planning Board is entertaining proposals from the SUBWAY chain to open a franchise in the old Bertucci's site at 197 Elm Street. Does Davis really need this? We already have McDonald's, Domino's, and WingWorks and they're all eyesores that spew trash and odors. SUBWAY is a bland, corporate entity, which goes directly opposite to the funky, enterpreneurial shops and excellent food choices that have slowly been moving into Davis Square.

Contact Alderman John Connolly to express your views, his information is on the City of Somerville web page: www.ci.somerville.ma.us

There will be a public hearing on March 10 at 7:00 PM at City Hall so come and be heard!

Comments

[enmascarado.livejournal.com]

Bertucci's closed. The McDonalds is not highly trafficed. The only large chains that thrive in Davis are Dunkin Donuts and Starbucks, so there may not be a market for Subway. There currently isn't any funky, enterpreneurial shop or excellent food choice in that space now. Why not let the marketplace decide?

A used building is better than an empty one.

[dcart.livejournal.com]

I have no opinion on the Subway.
But I doubt much of what makes Davis special would be there if we simply "let the market decide" everything. A lot of what makes Somerville interesting wouldn't be there at all.

Every single rule, regulation, and law that touches business is an opposing force to "the market". I doubt many free marketeers would like the world that would derive from seeing their theory in practice.

[prog.livejournal.com]

Just the same, I think a lot of people in this area are concerned about the more specific case of vacant lots or abandoned buildings encouraged to stay that way, due to those who immediately reject the proposals of corporations interested in setting up shop there. (I'm thinking of a particular point of contention troubling the eastern part of our fair city...)

[enmascarado.livejournal.com]

You don't have to have a free market to have a market, just goods and/or services being exchanged. Even with the regulations that are in place, there is a market to Davis Square. I'm not suggesting that any rules be removed for Subway. If it can open under the existing rules, let it sink or swim on it's own merits.

-Dan