Summer Work Downtown
June 6th, 2010
At the last Downtown Renaissance meeting, Director of Public Works, Peter Sellers was a guest speaker and told us about the summer projects for the area.
The projects planned will be started this summer and completed sometime next summer.  They’re going to make functional and aesthetic improvements to downtown. Some of these projects include adding brick lined sidewalks, taking out all the trees and replacing them with a different kind of tree that can handle the area better (species yet to be determined), and installing tree grates to protect the roots. Also with the subtraction of the rotary, they will be increasing the space in the plaza area in front of the Memorial building. In addition to all this, they’ll install brick crosswalks and add ornamental lighting that will “dramatically” light up downtown at night using LED lights.
Downtown can be a touchy subject. Some people say its too far gone to improve and some see it’s potential. My feelings about it vary from day to day. While it doesn’t solve the major issues, I feel it’s better than not doing anything and I’m looking forward to having these improvements done.
Gosh, Framingham won’t be the same without that downtown rotary! I’m sure the improvements will be lovely. Let’s hope they attract some businesses. I used to love shopping downtown with my mom when I was a kid.
Comment by CatherineR — June 6, 2010 @ 9:40 pm
What do you mean, subtraction of the rotary?
Comment by Tim — June 6, 2010 @ 9:41 pm
I think the area has plenty of potential. I kind of remember back around 1990 or so-there seemed to be a lot of empty storefronts and trash. It’s a shame that the small business owners who’ve helped make the place busier and cleaner will probably be priced out by these improvements but that’s the way of the world, I guess.
I’m puzzled about the trees, though. They seem to be doing fine. Is it really necessary to rip them all up?
Comment by ginger — June 6, 2010 @ 10:56 pm
@ Tim
Back in February the Selectmen approved getting rid of the rotary. http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/features/x210267598/Framingham-looks-to-replace-downtown-rotary
@ Ginger
Peter said they were getting trees that could better handle the area, I guess maybe pollution and abuse wise? Or maybe they will have a certain type of greeery that has more of a presence? Not sure exactly.
Comment by michelle — June 7, 2010 @ 9:32 am
Eliminating the rotary seems like a horrible idea. Its the trains that cause the traffic jams, not the roatary, and furthermore, rotaries reduce traffic and accidents while lights cause them. Just my 2 cents.
Comment by Tim — June 7, 2010 @ 8:22 pm
i agree the rotary will not make any improvement. i think what they need to do is increase access roads between north framingham and south framingham in order to dilute the traffic pressure from people trying to get from one side to the other - mostly people who may need to go through downtown framingham in order to get to rt 9 or the pike. lets face it the traffic in downtown is not being caused by people trying to get to downtown businesses, its caused by people trying to simply get through downtown. they need to add more exits to route 9 in the framingham stretch. this will help the framingham traffic and thus make people more likely to go downtown to dine or shop
Comment by Joe — June 7, 2010 @ 8:36 pm
i also think if the town could somehow stimulate white collar / office type commercial development downtown it would also be a huge boost to downtown. that would greatly increase the demand for places for people to eat and shop.
Comment by Joe — June 7, 2010 @ 8:40 pm
There are so many issues with downtown Framingham that it’s hard to know where to begin.
I agree with other posters here: The lights as an improvement seems speculative at best (despite what the feasibility study suggested). I liked the way the rotary worked and the landscaping that it added to an otherwise concrete and asphalt jungle.
Cynically speaking, I think the town had a boat-load of grant money it had to spend and decided that spending it on something was better than losing it. It does, however, seem misdirected to put up traffic lights with highly questionable utility.
Tell me: When the Brazilians return home, who’s going to fill the empty buildings, traffic lights or not?
Comment by Matt — June 8, 2010 @ 2:04 am
Good to hear about the improvements, but will this be like applying lipstick to the proverbial pig? The rotary, the lights, the sidewalks, yes, perhaps issues, but everyone knows what the real problem is downtown. There are a couple of businesses/services that just attract an undesirable element. Period. As long as they stay, the entreprenurial investor will stay away.
Downtown has incredible potential! Look at what was done in undesireable areas of Somerville, Cambridge, Mattapan just to name a few. Why not us?
We are years - if ever - away from seeing any significant change for the better down town.
Comment by Joe — June 9, 2010 @ 2:11 pm
The improvments are great but the town needs to get tough about keeping the downtown clean. When I run through downtown there is trash on the streets and along the train tracks. LET’S ALSO BURN DOWN THE BILLBOARDS !
Comment by FRANK — June 10, 2010 @ 11:56 am