People:1 Trees:0
August 29th, 2008
Almost a year ago, I posted about the Salvation Army placing potted trees outside it’s window base where people would sit.  It seemed like a great way to make the corner look nice and obviously Salvation Army wanted to discourage people from sitting there.
Months later, I noticed people were sharing the pots with the trees and sitting in them. Also, the condition of the trees was deteriorating. Mid-summer, I noticed the trees were completely dead and anything that was green was a dry rusty orange. Finally last week I noticed that they just got rid of the trees and people are sitting on the pots. So the progression was like this:
1.  :/
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2. 
3. :/
4. 
I hope the Salvation Army tries again to make it’s entrance look nice. They chose to put those trees there in the first place so they must have wanted it to look nice.  I know someone will say I’m anti-helping people or something but I thought it looked nice with the trees there and think picture 2 looks better than picture 1 (or 3 or 4). I’m not saying there shouldn’t be organizations that help people who need it, but I thought it was nice that such an organization was trying to improve it’s appearance in an area that could use a facelift.
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While the bushs were a huge improvement, obviously people are not respectful enough to find someplace else to sit. Perhaps planting pricker bushs would help get the point across.
Comment by Susie — August 29, 2008 @ 1:24 pm
Anyone who would criticize you for pointing out such obvious blight, even at the hands of an organization that does a lot of good for people, is just the kind of ideologue you wouldn’t want to pay too much attention to.
These are just the kinds of issues that keep so many people reluictant to stroll around downtown.
I’m afraid that your astute observations of that corner over time symbolize a much bigger problem for the Downtown.
Comment by Matt — August 29, 2008 @ 1:46 pm
Political corectness in this liberal age has stifled our right to free speech
Comment by Ed — August 29, 2008 @ 3:56 pm
Why not pull out all public seating and replace it with trees I mean trees are always going to look nicer than people sitting down amirite?
Comment by tim — August 29, 2008 @ 7:49 pm
HmmMethinksTimwaxessarcastic
Loiteringtreesdoseemabetteralternativeamirite?
Comment by Matt — August 29, 2008 @ 11:43 pm
Ed, give me a break about the whole “political correctness” thing….no one’s free speech is being “stifled” here. The original poster IS speaking her mind about how the trees were a nice addition and is still being respectful to the people down there. And I don’t think that anyone faults her for that. I for one am in agreement that it’s too bad that the trees were removed but at the same time maybe we should have a bench there for people to sit. I mean, the Salvation Army is about helping people right? BUT i don’t think that the organization should be pressured into getting a bench. At any rate, viva la free speech and don’t worry about the “liberal age”!
Comment by Fred — September 1, 2008 @ 12:00 pm
Salvation Army? That’s the old Gilchrist’s, a department store that was once on a par with (the late, lamented) Jordan Marsh. Downtown Framingham used to be more upscale than it is now! Personally, I think they should put a nice, wrought iron park bench there and flank it with potted trees. Aesthetic problem and sore feet issues solved!
Comment by Catherine R. — September 4, 2008 @ 11:14 pm
Did anyone think about putting those metal spikes that keep annoying pigeons from flocking overhead?
Comment by Donondraper — September 15, 2008 @ 7:53 pm
No need to be timid about speaking your mind. The trees looked great, the loiterers do not. I am sympathetic that the loiterers don’t have anyplace better to be, but frankly the trees possess an infinite degree more aesthetic appeal.
It is possible that the trees died because the SA didn’t properly maintain them; it’s also possible they died because the loiterers abused them. Whatever the cause, the flora are dead and gone and that is unfortunate. But why leave the empty pots? They probably fill with trash and cigarette butts on a daily basis. If there’s even any soil left, it’s a matter of time before some weeds take root. Now they look terrible, and serve as a reminder of the failure that this one noble organization tried to make to improve the area where they service the community.
Comment by Nostalgio — September 17, 2008 @ 2:02 am
First, great work on the blog. We need this and more like it to document how Framingham has changed and is changing.
Now,, on to the SA planter farce.
I appreciate the need to provide services for the down and out, but the SA needs to be more active in presenting a positive image to the community. The pots were a nice, albiet half a**ed, attempt. To not actively discourage sitting around and on them, however, now makes that corner look even more forlorn.
I love to see the passion you have for the Town, and can only hope that others will adopt your attitude.
Comment by Sean — November 11, 2008 @ 5:32 pm
They need to either have seats inside (the outside has no reason to bear the loitering), or you know, there is a small park right in front of them…
Comment by Hygor — November 12, 2008 @ 11:55 pm