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| Magoun Square 2011 |
In light of OSPCD's report regarding economic development in Magoun Square, I posed the following questions to get people thinking about what they would like to see: I asked, What is your vision for Magoun Square? What would you like to see? What is successful and what could use some improvement? Looking at this from a different perspective: What do you think the new residents of Maxwell's Green would like? What would bring T riders off of the Green Line for a night in Magoun Square?
Although the scheduled meeting regarding the square has been postponed, a community meeting will be taking place within a month to get neighbors' input on what they want up the street from where they live! Below, you will find some ideas that came up from the initial posting. Now, that everyone's thinking, comment your ideas or elaborate on the ones that my readers provided!
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The ideas I have compiled, so far, include:
(1) "I think something Magoun Square desperately needs is daytime business, either more consistent retail business or more 9-5 office business. I would love to see the building on the corner of Medford and Broadway be turned into a shared office space similar to Design Annex in Union Square but no necessarily limited to design companies.
What I think might be limiting this is available daytime parking. If more daytime business were to move into Magoun Square, where would they park?
I think the other problem I see is a lack of standards for business fronts. There doesn't seem to be any requirement for signage. Just putting a banner over the old sign isn't good enough. I also think businesses need to be more responsible for the sidewalk areas in front of their business. Clean up the trash and shovel in the winter for heaven's sake."
(2) - make the CVS parking lot at Broadway a 1-way entrance only to get rid of game of chicken between those exiting CVS and those on Dexter St. CVS would exit onto Medford St only.
- reclaim the 9 +/- parking spaces next to CVS's brick paved area at the entrance mentioned in the item above and turn it into a larger public space so that Magoun Square has public area on par with Davis Square.
- Move the check cashing place. It is in a beautiful building that deserves a tenant more fitting for such a high-exposure building in a classy square.
- expand Old Magoun's Saloon... it is frequently packed. Love that place! Make sure Old Magoun's, Lil' Vinny's, and Wangs never leave.
- add more trash barrels. At least one at each corner, plus one each side of the street a block away from the square on each street that leads away from the square (with big signs on them that say "put your Dunkin Donuts cups and scratch lottery tickets in here, not in the yards of residents")
- exterminate the rat infestation
- facade renovations, especially the 1970's facades for the whole strip from the liquor store to On the Hill Tavern.
- hurry up with the bike path extension from Cedar to Lowell... add bike racks near the square.
(3) Live music brings people to Union and Davis squares, so how about Magoun? Also, Magoun needs a festival like other parts of the city already have. Close off Medford Street for a day and celebrate the neigborhood.
(4) I think that both residents and visitors would enjoy the following:
- coffee house / cafe
- gym
- co-working place - to bring in 9-5 business
- more greenspace / outdoor seating
- business that provides some sort of activity (bowling, theater, arcade…)
- bike racks
I think neighborhood events like a block party would be a good opportunity to promote the businesses and bring neighbors together.
(5) I think that Magoun Sq needs a focus point - a reason to come to Magoun Sq; How about providing a grant and license for a bar with a rooftop deck? Either give Magouns a cheap loan to do it or else the upstairs of the building in the picture could have a deck above the buildings on medford st. If the city pre approved plans for a rooftop deck, that space would be quickly filled....It would take a bit of work but would be a great attraction
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