Re-imagining post COVID-19: "Midtown Is Reeling. Should Its Offices Become Apartments?"

From the New York Times, an article of interest for Franklin:

"The pandemic is pummeling New York City’s commercial real estate industry, one of its main economic engines, threatening the future of the nation’s largest business districts as well as the city’s finances.

The damage caused by the emptying of office towers and the permanent closure of many stores is far more significant than many experts had predicted early in the crisis.

The powerful real estate industry is so concerned that the shifts in workplace culture caused by the outbreak will become long-lasting that it is promoting a striking proposal: to turn more than one million square feet of Manhattan office space into housing."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/11/nyregion/nyc-commercial-real-estate.html

   

Franklin Economic Development Survey - your chance to provide input

The Town of Franklin, in conjunction with the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) are conducting a community survey regarding economic development in our town. 

Please click on this link to access the survey form:
https://forms.gle/6SJpXeWPvg2H37A96 

This survey will be available until December 13. 

There are hard copies available in the Town Administrator's office if needed. Thank you in advance for your input, ideas and feedback!

Franklin Economic Development Survey - Provide your input!

Franklin Economic Development Survey - Provide your input!

The Town of Franklin, in conjunction with the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) are conducting a community survey regarding economic development in our town. 

Please click on this link to access the survey form:
https://forms.gle/6SJpXeWPvg2H37A96 

This survey will be available until December 13. 

There are hard copies available in the Town Administrator's office if needed. Thank you in advance for your input, ideas and feedback!

Franklin Economic Development Survey - Provide your input!

In the News: Candidates Night - 40B and commercial industrial comment highlights

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

"Candidates for the upcoming town election gathered in the Town Hall on Tuesday evening to discuss hot topics in town and plea their cases for a seat in town government. 

Candidates for Town Council mostly discussed development . Here are a few highlights:"

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20171018/franklin-town-council-candidates-discuss-development

Thompson Press building on Dean Ave - future site of 200+ condos

"commercial urban agriculture is a newer trend"

With an Agricultural Commission underway, a thriving Community Gardens, and several farms in the area Franklin is maintaining a link to farming. And apparently, we are not alone!

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

"Long the domain of rural areas, commercial farming operations are now starting to take root in urban neighborhoods. 

“Demand has been really strong for this,” said Rose Arruda, urban agriculture coordinator for the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources, which has awarded approximately $1.5 million in urban farming grants over the past five years. 

Perched up on rooftops, packed into greenhouses or spread across vacant lots, urban farmers grow a variety of crops to sell to customers in their communities."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20170623/farming-takes-root-in-city

Franklin's Community Gardens is located at the King St Memorial Fields

TOWN OF FRANKLIN RULES AND REGULATIONS (APPLIES TO ALL TOWN PROPERTY) Effective as of April 15, 2009

The book sale prohibition is explained in item #13 in the following list:

To ensure safety, fairness and for mutual protection of all patrons of the Town’s Facilities, the Town of Franklin maintains certain operating rules and regulations. The following rules and regulations have been developed to be in the best interests of the Town, its residents and the public who use the facilities. These rules and regulations are designed to assist the public in understanding their responsibilities and to ensure a safe environment for all persons using Town facilities. The rules and regulations are, as follows: 

1. Persons shall not enter or be upon town property under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs. Persons shall not consume or possess any alcohol, illegal drugs, or marijuana on Town property. 

2. Persons shall not use any tobacco product within any municipal building or upon the property on which any municipal building is located, except in designated areas. 

3. Persons shall not possess, use, or store any explosive, incendiary device or weapon on Town property. 

4. Persons shall not present a false or altered identification that may be required as part of using a facility. No person shall defraud the Town in any manner. 

5. Persons shall not assault, threaten, harass or abuse any employee or a member of the public, either physically or verbally. 

6. Persons shall not engage in any form of disruptive conduct while on Town property. 

7. Persons shall not use skateboards or operate dirt bikes, ATV’s, motorized bicycles, motorized scooters or other motorized vehicles on Town property. This prohibition shall not apply to a person who, as a result of a handicap or disability, requires the use of a motorized wheelchair or similar equipment. 

8. Persons shall comply with all posted safety rules and regulations.

9. Persons shall not misuse, abuse, damage or tamper with the property of the Town or property of any employee or member of the public. 

10. Persons shall not use Town property or enter Town offices without first obtaining proper authorization, except during normal business hours or when the property or offices are open to the general public. No person shall enter or remain in a Town building or facility outside of regular business hours without authority or permission to do so. No person shall enter or remain in any portion of a Town building or facility to which the general public does not have regular access without authority or permission to do so. 

11. No animals (except those needed by the physically handicapped are allowed within Town buildings. All persons with an animal on Town property must properly remove and dispose of any animal feces. 

12. The Town assumes no responsibility for lost, stolen or damaged personal property. 

13. No solicitation or sales of goods or services is permitted on Town property, except those fundraising activities that directly support the Town's facilities or programs. 

14. No person shall enter or remain in a Town building or facility unless properly clothed and shod: street clothes and footwear are required at all times; no bathing suits are allowed. 

15. No person shall enter or remain in a Town building or facility who emits an offensive odor because of poor personal hygiene. 

16. No person shall use any Town building or facility other than for its intended, authorized or permitted purpose or use. 

17. Persons shall promptly report all accidents or incidents which result in either personal injury or damage to the property of the Town, an employee, or member of the public, regardless of who is responsible for the damage 

18. Persons shall immediately report defective equipment or unsafe conditions of any equipment or facilities that may endanger anyone to the Town employee in charge of the facility or to the Town Administrator. 

Persons that fail to follow the rules and regulations of the Town or other rules or regulations established by each Department may be subject to a fine and/or loss of privilege to use the Town facilities. Depending on the severity of the offense or the frequency of other offenses the Town may initiate legal action.

This document can be found on the Franklin website here
http://town.franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_Admin/Municipal%20Facilities%20Use/randrfor%20muniuse.pdf

Franklin Municipal Building (and yes, I'll need to update the photo to show no snow)

Franklin's TJ Maxx to close

A reliable source amongst the Franklin Matters community passed along word that employees of the TJ Maxx store in Franklin were notified that the store will be closing Jan 16th.

With stores in Plainville, Milford, South Attleboro, Framingham and Natick currently on the map, Franklin will lose the convenience of having a location in town. Plainville, the newest store, likely would pick up some of the Franklin traffic.

If you have information to add to this story, please let me know.