How does public want to see Cliftondale Square revitalized?
Survey respondents identified a lack of parking as the most important issue to address in order to spur a revitalization of Cliftondale Square. Cliftondale Revitalization Committee Chairman Joe Vecchione presented the results of a survey that was put together to solicit feedback on the challenges facing Cliftondale Square and what people feel should occur to improve the town center. A total of 364 surveys were filled out. Those completing the surveys identified these as the most critical issues facing Cliftondale Square: Parking, a lack of amenities, traffic mitigation and vehicular circulation, municipal/stakeholder inaction and lack of vision, underutilized/vacant storefronts, pedestrian safety, cleanliness/rodent issues, outdated zoning, limited housing stock and public transportation. Parking was without question cited by survey respondents as the single most important issue in Cliftondale, as off-street parking is privately owned and the town would need to purchase, lease or make an agreement with a private entity in order to use available parking lots. As one example, the Archdiocese of Boston strongly encouraged the Cliftondale Revitalization Committee to look elsewhere to solve existing parking issues other than the St. Margarets Church parking lot that is set aside for church parishioners. In his presentation, Vecchione pointed out no parking management plan is in place and that leads to underutilized parking that doesnt respond to the diversity of business hours in Cliftondale. Additionally, Vecchione noted there is an opportunity for a public/private partnership with ownership and a lack of shared parking contributing to the perceived issues of parking in the square. Other takeaways from parking in Cliftondale Square are the nonexistence of painted line street parking on Lincoln Avenue that leads to the inefficient use of existing spots and a lack of enforcement for timed parking. More than 80% of survey respondents answered they would support the town potentially purchasing property to mitigate the perceived issue of parking in Cliftondale. Vecchione said he was very pleasantly surprised to see the MEG Building room was filled with more than 30 people - including the towns Planning Department - and there was engagement in the discussion. Weve lacked civic participation in municipal matters for years and to see this turnout was an encouraging first step and validates this effort as a worthwhile one, despite its challenges translating it to physical progress, Vecchione said. Infrastructure  Vecchione summarized the following survey responses regarding infrastructure in Cliftondale:  Most people believe major realignments in traffic patterns are required  Jackson Street residents have expressed concern about potentially rerouting traffic and creating one ways to ease congestion within the square and provide better vehicle circulation/parking  Most respondents think sidewalks within the business district should expand to allow sidewalk amenities or possibly small outdoor dining opportunities for future restaurant use  Many referred to heavy trucking through Cliftondale as being an issue  There is an incoming traffic and egress study on the impacts of traffic realignments, and potential curb-cut extensions and traffic calming measures were studied in 2018 to create a more efficient rotary and clearly delineated traffic pattern  Some noteworthy survey findings  Seniors (ages 65-plus) generally feel Cliftondale Square is not very safe  Many respondents prefer an added police presence in the square  Almost every part of Cliftondale was mentioned as a troublesome area for pedestrian safety  Attitudes on permitting mixed-use showed a strong generational divide, with respondents ages 18-34 favoring mixed-use in Cliftondale, while middle-aged respondents strongly oppose it  Most respondents didnt prefer bike lanes connected to the Northern Strand Community Trail, but people ages 18-34 (52%) were receptive to the idea of bike lanes  More than 80% of respondents would support a storefront improvement program in which the town subsidizes a percentage of the cost of work to encourage improvements in the downtown district. People feel the following uses should be permitted in Cliftondale: Restaurant/bar/caf/brewery, independent shops, anything, housing, outdoor seating, pharmacy, hardware store, open/green space  As for what shouldnt be permitted in the square, these uses topped respondents lists: Marijuana dispensary, hair/nail salons, vape/smoke shops, industrial use, housing, banking, liquor stores, post office  Ideas to improve the square  Survey respondents recommended the following actions as short-term improvements to Cliftondale Square: Increase trash receptacles, beautification, uniform signage, increased/more consistent enforcement of parking and speeding, making the permitting process a bit easier, removing/replacing dead evergreens in the circle, Cliftondale seems to get short shrift as to town inclusion during holidays (especially at Christmas), a promotional campaign with weekly coupon sponsored by businesses to get residents to show up, repair damaged sidewalks, permit public art and murals, incentivize pop up markets, community events and open-air performances. As longer-term improvements, respondents proposed:  Increasing parking and having more community events in the square  Making the square more walkable and pedestrian-friendly to give people a reason to go and stay  Allow three to four-story housing, such as condos with underground parking that also have business storefronts  Get the small-town feel back  Bring in green space for town events such as a Fourth of July celebration  Make Cliftondale more like Melrose or Wakefields downtowns  Revise traffic patterns for less congestion, put utilities underground  Implement an accredited Main Street program with an active Chamber of Commerce and business community to create a vibrant mixed-use community, with new buildings adequately sized to host restaurant use  Vecchione: Piecemeal approach wont work  One attendee at the public forum mentioned that the simple organization of people and vision can help expedite physical results  a scenario Vecchione would love to see come to fruition. I feel the town and private stakeholders are not as in sync as they need to be in order to realistically tackle the issues that persist in Cliftondale, and have over decades, Vecchione said. An organization of people (stakeholders, officials, planners, business owners, etc.) will help facilitate the conversations and cooperation that needs to be had in order to get over the proverbial hurdle in Cliftondale.  Noting that all off-street parking in Cliftondale is privately owned, Vecchione suggested that the formulation of a public/private partnership should begin with parking and finding a way to logistically create a parking management plan. A total of 174 off-street parking spots exist that are underutilized and could potentially triple parking capacity in Cliftondale if the lots are combined to create a better ingress and egress of vehicles, Vecchione said. A piecemeal approach to this issue will not work as we have seen, he said. It is really a conversation that needs to be had with all stakeholders in the same room. In turn, the town needs to find a way to incentivize private property owners to relieve ownership of their lots, underutilized or not, whether that is through zoning incentives, partial subsidization of facade improvement, signage improvements or infrastructure improvements (e.g. external grease traps). While there are plenty of issues to iron out including liability, continuous maintenance, signage, metering/enforcement, and getting stakeholders to the table, I think the town should put their best foot forward and strive to achieve this substantial goal to finally get some traction in Cliftondale. This is the red tape that everyone has lectured me about when forming this committee. Nothing will get done unless we try to cut through that red tape and that goes both ways; town and stakeholder. And at the end of the day, both sides need to understand, while change is difficult to adapt to at times, these changes will benefit the businesses, the stakeholder and the town as a whole and open up opportunities that are not currently available today.  Next steps  In terms of next steps, Vecchione said passive intervention  which means waiting for something to save Cliftondale  isnt sustainable. The survey findings will be part of the report the committee will put together by Nov. 1. The committee will reconvene in late August or early September to begin drafting the final report, Vecchione said. Results will be synthesized along with discussions at the June 28 community forum and compared to previous square studies to provide recommendations for how to incentivize and enhance the existing business base to create a more vibrant Cliftondale Square. In the meantime, we will continue to gather information, receive feedback, reach out and converse with stakeholders and town officials and look out for opportunities short term and long term, Vecchione said.