Globe West today looks at the impact downtown revitalization may have on some existing Framingham small-business owners, particularly those in the Brazilian community (see Shopkeepers Angry Over Development). A number of them believe the work they’ve done to improve parts of downtown helped make the downtown more attractive for investment — and instead of benefitting, [...]
Archive for April, 2006
Gentrification vs. Existing Small Business Owners
April 30, 2006Framingham Artist Studios Open House Today
April 30, 2006This weekend, artists in two sets of working studios — Saxonville Studios, in the old Saxonville mill buildings; and the Fountain Street Studios downtown — have teamed up to hold a joint open house. The public is invited to come visit 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. today. For more information, see SaxonvilleStudios.com and FountainStreetStudios.com.
Jane Jacobs’ Legacy
April 26, 2006Urban planning pioneer Jane Jacobs died yesterday just before her 90th birthday, leaving a legacy of planners inspired by her beliefs that designing for people is critically important for the vibrancy of communities.
Her groundbreaking book The Death and Life of Great American Cities was written at a time — the early ’60s — when American [...]
What Killed a Phoenix Neighborhood Business District?
April 23, 2006“The 1970s were cruel to the Melrose neighborhood’s stretch of north Seventh Avenue: The street was widened,” begins an article in the Arizona Republic about the area’s renovation. “Seventh Avenue, Councilman Tom Simplot said, became a minifreeway.”
It’s a cautionary tale for what not to do when faced with traffic problems in a downtown business district. [...]
Quality of Life Doesn’t Just Happen
April 19, 2006“Quality of life doesn’t happen as a byproduct of a free market,” said Harriet Tregoning, executive director of the Smart Growth Leadership Institute in Washington, according to an article in the Charlotte Observer. “You have to be deliberate. You can’t just fix it afterward. I don’t know of too many communities that have been able [...]
When Pedestrians Take Over the Streets
April 18, 2006In many cities like New York and Montreal, streets are regularly closed for various festivals and parades. Things like Montreal’s jazz and comedy festivals add significantly to quality of life (despite the annoyance for vehicular traffic) and also often attract tourists. It’s much less frequent that suburban streets are closed off for events that revolve [...]
Where in the ‘Built Environment’ Can You Go to Enjoy a Nice Day Outside?
April 14, 2006I don’t mean finding a park or a trail to go hiking, cycling or running. My question is: As the weather (finally) gets nice out, where can you go to enjoy it by strolling around and/or sitting outdoors in a manmade environment? That question goes to the heart of whether a streetscape is truly pedestrian-appealing.
In [...]
Bill Would Investigate “Built Environment’s” Impact on Children’s Health
April 10, 2006The Healthy Places Act of 2006 would help state and local governments conduct Health Impact Assessments — voluntary studies that would help assess the effect of major policies on community health, according to the American Public Health Association. In addition, a new interagency working group would help various federal agencies coordinate efforts on environmental health [...]
