Comments on: Summer Work Downtown http://www.thisisframingham.com/summer-work-downtown Life in the 'ham Tue, 22 May 2012 06:56:31 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.1 By: FRANK http://www.thisisframingham.com/summer-work-downtown#comment-13476 FRANK Thu, 10 Jun 2010 15:56:53 +0000 http://www.thisisframingham.com/summer-work-downtown#comment-13476 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 ! 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 !

]]> By: Joe http://www.thisisframingham.com/summer-work-downtown#comment-13472 Joe Wed, 09 Jun 2010 18:11:14 +0000 http://www.thisisframingham.com/summer-work-downtown#comment-13472 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. 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.

]]> By: Matt http://www.thisisframingham.com/summer-work-downtown#comment-13457 Matt Tue, 08 Jun 2010 06:04:22 +0000 http://www.thisisframingham.com/summer-work-downtown#comment-13457 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? 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?

]]> By: Joe http://www.thisisframingham.com/summer-work-downtown#comment-13456 Joe Tue, 08 Jun 2010 00:40:32 +0000 http://www.thisisframingham.com/summer-work-downtown#comment-13456 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. 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.

]]> By: Joe http://www.thisisframingham.com/summer-work-downtown#comment-13455 Joe Tue, 08 Jun 2010 00:36:46 +0000 http://www.thisisframingham.com/summer-work-downtown#comment-13455 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 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

]]> By: Tim http://www.thisisframingham.com/summer-work-downtown#comment-13454 Tim Tue, 08 Jun 2010 00:22:23 +0000 http://www.thisisframingham.com/summer-work-downtown#comment-13454 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. 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.

]]> By: michelle http://www.thisisframingham.com/summer-work-downtown#comment-13453 michelle Mon, 07 Jun 2010 13:32:04 +0000 http://www.thisisframingham.com/summer-work-downtown#comment-13453 @ Tim Back in February the Selectmen approved getting rid of the rotary. http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/features/x210267598/Framingham-looks-to-replace-downtown-rotary</p> @ 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.</p> @ 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.

]]> By: ginger http://www.thisisframingham.com/summer-work-downtown#comment-13449 ginger Mon, 07 Jun 2010 02:56:49 +0000 http://www.thisisframingham.com/summer-work-downtown#comment-13449 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? 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?

]]> By: Tim http://www.thisisframingham.com/summer-work-downtown#comment-13447 Tim Mon, 07 Jun 2010 01:41:23 +0000 http://www.thisisframingham.com/summer-work-downtown#comment-13447 What do you mean, subtraction of the rotary? What do you mean, subtraction of the rotary?

]]> By: CatherineR http://www.thisisframingham.com/summer-work-downtown#comment-13446 CatherineR Mon, 07 Jun 2010 01:40:06 +0000 http://www.thisisframingham.com/summer-work-downtown#comment-13446 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. 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.

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