Thursday, November 30, 2006

Atlantic Glass

The potential power of this group. Today my tenant called to let me know that her front door had been smasked. Not completely broken (laminated) but spider webbed. I called my insurance company, who referred me to JN Phillips.

Then I remembered, however, Andy told me about Atlantic Glass (508-793-2100) on Mason Street. I stopped in on my way to work and he is taking care of it.

Parking Overlay

Chandler Business Group

I have set up a meeting with Joel Fontaine regarding the overlay. We are meeting December 8th at 3:00 44 Front St suite 510. I also talked with the owners of 229 Chandler St. Corner of Dewey St. the old Fashion Flair building. A lot of people have been interested but with no parking as well as no one in the area to help them with relief. Maybe we need to discuss no parking requirements for existing stores/storefronts to help move these properties along. Two pizza places were interested and needed relief of 5 spots neither wanted to wait for a variance. This overlay project could takes 6 months but I feel is worth putting in place. The interesting thing is that the stores are now rented. They will open up without permits to operate because of pre-existing use?? They still should have parking requirements but these businesses unlike restaurants do not trigger permit requirements or enforcement of restaurants.

Wednesday, November 29, 2006

Winslow--Pleasant Street Parcel

I was thinking today the effect a $450,000 sale of an empty parcel will have on vacant parcels, not to mention all assessed values in the area, will have on the surrounding parcels assessed value?

Tuesday, November 28, 2006

Sunday Paper Telegram Story

MLK Blvd.’ plan studiedNew name for Central St.

By Winston W. Wiley TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFFwwiley@telegram.com

The subcommittee is expected to make its recommendation on the Central Street name change Tuesday.

WORCESTER— A local effort is under way that would bring together two prominent African-American historical figures downtown. Streets bearing the names of Marshall W. “Major” Taylor and Martin Luther King Jr. would cross paths just outside the Worcester Convention Center, if a proposal before a City Council subcommittee is eventually adopted. The measure would rename Central Street to Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in honor of the slain civil rights leader. A section of Worcester Center Boulevard was renamed Major Taylor Boulevard in July, in recognition of the 1899 world cycling champion, affectionately known as the “Worcester Whirlwind.” It intersects Central Street.

Being pursued by a local group that calls itself Concerned Black Men, the Central Street name change was offered at a recent City Council Department of Public Works subcommittee meeting as an alternative to Chandler Street, which the group initially had sought to have renamed. “We were looking to change Chandler Street because two of the buildings owned and controlled by African-Americans are on that street,” said James C. Bonds, a CBM facilitator. Those buildings are the Quinsigamond Lodge of Elks and the Martin Luther King Jr. Business Empowerment Center.

The subcommittee, however, resisted the proposal to change Chandler Street, CBM members said, because of the inconvenience and expense to the many businesses and homeowners along the heavily commercial road. Named for the prominent Worcester family of Col. John Chandler, who served as a selectman, town treasurer, town clerk, county treasurer, sheriff, probate court judge, state representative and colonel of the Worcester regiment during the 1700s, Chandler Street runs three miles from Main Street to Pleasant Street in Tatnuck Square.

It is the address to numerous homes, businesses, two public elementary schools, Worcester State College and Temple Emanuel. Dan M. Hargrove, a resident of the Tatnuck Street area and member of CBM, said some of the group’s members initially were not thrilled with the Central Street alternative because they felt Chandler Street was more suitable, as well as much more visible. At a meeting a week ago at Emmanuel Baptist Church, however, the group agreed that Central Street was a good choice because of its location within what was historically the local black community in the Laurel/Clayton/Summer streets areas.

Currently, Central Street has only a few homes — mostly in a two-block span from Shrewsbury Street to Mulberry Street, known as East Central Street — and even fewer businesses. The Joseph D. Early Post Office and a medical office building are the only two major structures fronting the street, although others, such as the new county courthouse, the Worcester Convention Center, the Hilton Garden Inn, Worcester Medical Center and the Hampton Inn sit along the street.

The subcommittee is expected to make its recommendation on the Central Street name change Tuesday. Mr. Bonds said getting a street named for Rev. King would be the tip of the iceberg for CBM. “Our purpose is much greater than a street,” he said. “Our goal is trying to save black youth. A street name will help to build pride,” he said, but the ultimate goal is to get the black community involved in the overall community and the effort to uplift black youth. To that end, the group has seven committees through which it will develop and implement strategies to address issues facing the black community, according to Mr. Bonds. They are: spiritual, political, youth, economic, cultural, health and education committees. “One of the issues we identified was a lack of identity, and one of our goals as a group is to instill a sense of identity in the black community,” said Mr. Hargrove, a local chiropractor. “Although people are aware of who Major Taylor is, the name Martin Luther King is much more significant to the youth at this point.”

Thursday, November 16, 2006

Mason Street Project

I was watching the City Council Meeting last night and Kate Toomey inquired as to the status of the Mason Street Project. Julie Jacobson answered by saying the group was still working on their financing, including HOME funds (Grants) and hoped to start in the Spring.

Ironically they scored Advantageous in on their financial plan when they submitted their proposal based on a Letter of Interest from Legacy Capital (3/5/5 City Council). What is a "letter of interest"?

Sunday, November 12, 2006

Busy Week

I did nothing last week for the Chandler Business or my facade plans for 82 Pleasant Street. This week should be a little slower and I:

  1. hope to meet with Dan Benoit
  2. complete the paperwork for Paul Morano

Wednesday, November 01, 2006

Telegram Winslow Park

Another story in the paper:

http://www.telegram.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061101/COLUMN44/611010712/1008/NEWS02

Read my comments below just now again.. I am by no means against this park, but I just question with Elm Park being around the corner, the shortage of staff people already at the Parks department, commercial/residential potential of this lot and the current 5 year fiscal plan for the city whether or not this was the best use.

Chandler Street

There is a petition going in front of the committee on pulic works asking for a name change of Chandler Street from Park Ave to Main St. The petitioner is Charles Luster and he is asking for the name to be changed to Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. The first hearing is Novemeber 16th at 6:00 in the City Council Chambers. Any thoughts??