This Is Framingham

I drove by the old 400 restaurant (for those who never have been, is at the Franklin street plaza) and saw they are finally almost ready to open. This seems to be taking so long to open since it was supposed to be open in September. I heard it is going to be the same menu as the old restuarant. I hope the eggplant parm is just as good. This will be so great so have something I can walk to from my house and possibly liven up “sad plaza”.

Finally something going in the right direction on our side of town!

This week was the last step in my request for the installation of a parking sign on my street.  The curb across the street from our house has basically been disintegrated away because of trucks driving over the sidewalk when cars park so close to the corner on the other side. 
Cars there leave no room for a big truck to make a turn and stay on the road.  So I thought a “No parking from here to corner sign” would be a reasonable solution to the problem.

The curb:

I will admit in the beginning it was kind of confusing to even find out how to start the process or who to talk to since I had zero experience with this. 
I ran into a few dead ends when people would tell me this person or that person is who I need to talk to but when I did they turned out not to have anything to do with what I needed.

I eventually spoke to Peter Sellers of the Department of Public Works who was very nice and explained how the process for a request like mine works.
I emailed him a few pictures of the curb and when the trucks drove by so he could see what I was talking about.  He forwarded it to the Traffic and Roadway Safety Committee with a description of the issue and they told me when this request would be on their agenda.

I attended the Traffic and Roadway Safety Committee meeting when it was time and explained the situation to them.  I wasn’t sure if they’d roll their eyes at something like this and I’d have to push for it but the committee was very responsive and seemed genuinely concerned about what I was telling them.
It was approved by this committee and the next step was for it to be presented at the Board of Selectmen to get the full approval.
This past Tuesday I went to the Selectmen meeting to see what the verdict was and was happy they approved it.

I just thought I’d share this experience in case anyone was curious how things like this work.  I never knew or had a reason to know/care how a regular citizen can help make their neighborhood better or voice a concern.  It was a very educational and interesting experience for me.  I’m going to attend* some more meetings just to be more aware and informed about our town.  It’s interesting to hear other citizens and officials talk about what’s going. 

One citizen spoke at this meeting and passionately addressed that he was appalled and disgusted with the board – I didn’t know why, it seemed like it was from something that happened at the last meeting but I’m not sure, he was pretty vaugue.  The board knew what he was talking about though.  They listened, thanked him and then the guy left  I was curious what the problem was, maybe it’ll come up again and I’ll find out.

*Sometimes I try to watch meetings on TV but I’ll admit I end up changing the channel or falling asleep.  They didn’t seem as boring in person and it’s only a few minutes walk from our house so it shouldn’t be a big deal to get out and go there.

I noticed that at the corner of 135 and Mellen the Walgreens that I heard was coming has put a sign in the window.  I know Walgreens isn’t the most amazing thing but I think it will help the area and usually with a Walgreens there is another little store or two next to it so maybe they’ll do that here too. ???? ??????? 31

In Sad Plaza there are a few vacant stores in a row, one used to be a CVS and one used to be some sort of Pool place like Namco or something. 
In these doorways were big pieces of water-stained paper that half-hid the space behind it, which was in pitiful condition. 

Most depressing was that there was dead bird, that never found his way out, in the push-bar of a door.

Last weekend I happened to be by and noticed that all the stained paper was out of the doors and the dead bird was removed.  I don’t know what this means. ?????? ??? ???? 888   It could just be maintenence is finally being done on the building to be presentable or a store is actually moving in.  Either way it’s progress.

Then:

Now:

Then:

Now:

The other day I went to an open house of the almost-completed condos at Dennison Triangle.
They look like they’ll be nice once they’re done.  Here’s a link to some inside shots. People are paying good money ($300,000-$600,000) to live there and they’ve sold a decent amount already.  It should be interesting to see if this becomes a popular place and ends up having any effect on downtown.

I used to live off Moody Street in Waltham, it wasn’t the best neighborhood but there are so many great shops and restaurants that walking up and down Moody was something to do for fun.
I think our downtown has such potential to be like that.  I’m hoping that with these condos, the arcade project (whenever that gets started) and a little TLC,  downtown can be a place worth spending time in.

 

I was reading this article in the MWDN. 
It’s so great to read that someone with money cares about downtown.  It’s important to have us, the residents, care too. We keep our microscopic yard nice and picking up any trash in the street, etc… but what the Fitts’ and the Hulme’s are doing is a huge help.  I really do hope this starts a trend of restoration and interest in making downtown nice again. 
Thanks for caring guys!

When I was a kid, this building used to be some kind of New England Telephone space, I’m not sure what they did in there but I remember there used to be a giant telephone in the bay window that I thought was Lily Tomlin’s phone.
I forget  what it was after that, but Borders bookstore was the last occupant and they got kicked out which stinks because they were the less obnoxious bookstore. Now we have to go to Barnes and Noble next to it, which I used to avoid.  Of course if I like it, it goes away (see post below)

I was driving down Rt. 9 yesterday and noticed an orange banner on the building for the Halloween Outlet. 
Most people probably don’t care about H.O. setting up shop here but Halloween is my most favorite all-time holiday.  Even though I can’t trick or treat anymore, I love carving jack-o-lanterns and giving treats to the witches and monsters that come to my door.
I was SO happy to finally see a cool business move into town, even if it is only seasonal.  When I saw the sign I actually gasped with excitement and thought “YEAH man!” Silly?  Maybe, but so are most of the retail inhabitants of Route 9 so I think I can be excited about a fun, small business moving in.

Welcome Halloween Outlet, I’ve been waiting for you! Mwahh-haa-haaa!