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Providing accurate and timely information about what matters in Franklin, MA since 2007. * Working in collaboration with Franklin TV and Radio (wfpr.fm) since October 2019 *
Thursday, November 16, 2023
Volunteers Needed to help with the Winter Decorating Activities on Saturday, Nov. 18
Thursday, September 28, 2023
It’s Here! Franklin Celebrates the Season Saturday, September 30 at the Annual Harvest Festival
About the Franklin Downtown PartnershipThe Franklin Downtown Partnership is a non-profit 501©3 organization made up of more than 350 business owners, residents, and community leaders working to revitalize downtown Franklin. Residents can join the Downtown Partnership for only $25. The Partnership manages events like the Strawberry Stroll and the Harvest Festival, and initiatives such as beautification, streetscape design, greenspace, alley murals, and sculpture projects. For more information go to www.franklindowntownpartnership.org
Tuesday, August 8, 2023
Franklin Downtown Partnership announces new murals downtown
The Franklin Downtown Partnership is proud to present our latest outdoor mural install, featuring @franklin_art_association artists @paintingvenus_ @tesno.studio and @sueprattsheridan These interactive murals add color, vibrancy, and artistic vision to our downtown Main Street area.
The new murals are located across @birchwoodbakeryandkitchen. We encourage all our Franklin residents to stop by and take a selfie with the murals and tag us! Use hashtag #franklinart
Special thanks to @signs_by_cam for his intricate work in installing these works of art, The Franklin Cultural District Committee for providing funding, and The Ferrara Family for funding the install and to these talented artists for their craft and time.
Franklin Downtown Partnership announces new murals downtown |
Friday, June 9, 2023
Strawberry Stroll - rescheduled to rain date of June 10, 2023 -> 4 PM to 8 PM
The Franklin Downtown Partnership will be hosting the Strawberry Stroll THIS SATURDAY, June 10, 2023 from 4 PM - 8 PM Downtown. Live music will be provided by Heath Nisbett from 4 PM - 6 PM and Dom DeBaggis from 6 PM - 8 PM. There will be over 95 booths full of fun, freebies and strawberry shortcake of course!
Be sure to swing by the Franklin Fire Department Headquarters to get a glimpse of the fire trucks, including the antique ladder truck up close! Sparky will be out and about greeting guests and handing out plastic red helmets to the children.
At the Historical Museum, fresh popcorn will be served, and vintage wedding dresses will be displayed.
Rain date has been activated for Saturday, June 10, 2023 4 PM - 8 PM. Learn more here: https://www.franklindowntownpartnership.org/2023/06/many-activities-and-booths-set-for-june.html
Shared from -> https://www.franklinma.gov/home/news/weekend-fun-franklin-strawberry-stroll-june-9-2023
Weekend Fun in Franklin - Strawberry Stroll - June 10, 2023 -> 4 PM to 8 PM |
Saturday, May 20, 2023
YES - RAIN or SHINE - Planting Day - Saturday 5/20/2023
Sunday, April 2, 2023
First Annual Ladybug Trail Spring Walk - Saturday, April 15
The Franklin Downtown Partnership is a nonprofit, 501©3 organization made up of more than 360 business owners, community leaders and residents working to stimulate economic development downtown and create a positive impact throughout the area. Learn more about the Partnership at www.franklindowntownpartnership.org.
First Annual Ladybug Trail Spring Walk - Saturday, April 15 |
Thursday, March 23, 2023
Applause: Gelato and one of a kind gift shop to open next month in Franklin
rendering of "Applause" the new gelato shop downtown |
Thursday, January 26, 2023
Inclusionary zoning moved to Town Council by unanimous Economic Development Steering Cmte vote (video)
All seven members of the committee were present in the Council Chambers |
Sunday, January 22, 2023
Economic Development Subcommittee + Steering Committee Meeting agenda - Jan 25, 2023 - 6 PM
a. 22-889: Use Regulations Schedule - Residential
i. September 15, 2022 DCPD Memo & Staff Recommendationii. Map of a half mile circle from the train stationiii. Sample of a 40,000 square foot development in GRV
Downtown Zoning Discussion with D'Errico, Frongillo & Hamblen - 01/18/23 (audio)
FM #922 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 922 in the series.
This session of the radio show shares the audio recording of my conversation with Joel D’Errico, Melanie Hamblen and Cobi Frongillo. Joel, Melanie and I were in the Franklin TV Studio on Wednesday, January 18, 2023. Cobi joined us for almost all of the discussion via phone.
Consider this a continuation of the downtown zoning discussion from the “Franklin For All” project which is underway with review and discussion at the Economic Development Subcommittee Plus that Melanie Chairs and for which Cobi is Vice-Chair.
We were joined by Joel for this session to include his insights as a lifelong Franklinite, a property owner, and a former Town Councilor.
The recording of our conversation on zoning runs about 56 minutes. Let’s listen in.
Audio recording -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-922-town-of-franklin-downtown-zoning-discussion-01-18-23--------------
47 Summer St as referenced during the discussion
Google map -> https://goo.gl/maps/UsP5DQJXsVGTmQ7WA
Storm water map -> https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/e45452a3047e4c83b27170a8f4f79aa5
Prior discussion with Melanie and Cobi in December ->
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2022/12/downtown-zoning-discussion-with.html
Prior discussion with Cobi on housing conference -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2022/05/conversation-with-town-councilor-cobi.html
Prior discussion on Franklin For All project -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2022/03/this-franklin-for-all-discussion.html
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We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) or 102.9 on the Franklin area radio dial.
This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.
How can you help?
If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors
If you don't like something here, please let me know
Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.
For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/ or www.franklin.news/
If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com
The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana" c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission.
I hope you enjoy!
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You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"
Tuesday, January 3, 2023
CommonWealth Magazine: "Understanding the new concept of zoning capacity"
The first of a five part series by CommonWealth Magazine on the MBTA community zoning changes underway in Franklin (and elsewhere). The Economic Development Subcommittee is leading this effort which is active.
Any proposed changes got to the full Town Council for referral to the Planning Board before coming back for discussion and vote to approve. There is plenty of time for asking questions or providing input but the time is NOW.
"THERE IS A NEW concept in zoning, invented this year by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. In promulgated guidelines, the concept has been dubbed “minimum multi-family unit capacity.” I refer to the concept as “zoning capacity.”If you live in a community served by the MBTA, the concept may soon animate discussions at your town or city hall, or in local on-line forums, or between neighbors about how much multi-family housing the community should allow."
examples of current Franklin housing from Cobi's bike ride around Franklin |
Monday, December 26, 2022
Downtown Zoning Discussion with Councilors Hamblen & Frongillo - 12/19/22 (audio)
FM #904 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 904 in the series.
This session of the radio show shares the audio recording of my conversation with Town Councilors Melanie Hamblen and Cobi Frongillo. We met in the Franklin TV Studio on Monday, Dec 19, 2022.
We talked about inclusionary zoning and other zoning items from the “Franklin For All” project which are now in the review and discussion process with the Economic Development Subcommittee that Melanie Chairs and for which Cobi is Vice-Chair.
The recording of our conversation on zoning runs about 45 minutes. Let’s listen in.
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Cobi’s ride around Franklin taking photos of housing types
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1DG0iuZH0MmITC6GVDqL_zsZSV--9eq4s/view?usp=share_link
Cobi shared some Franklin Housing Data from DataTown (provided by MHP) via a Twitter thread https://twitter.com/CobiFrongillo/status/1516768940579606532
Prior discussion with Cobi on housing conference -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2022/05/conversation-with-town-councilor-cobi.html
Prior discussion on Franklin For All project -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2022/03/this-franklin-for-all-discussion.html
--------------
We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) or 102.9 on the Franklin area radio dial.
This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.
How can you help?
If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors
If you don't like something here, please let me know
Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.
For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/ or www.franklin.news/
If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com
The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana" c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission.
I hope you enjoy!
------------------
You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"
Friday, December 16, 2022
Milford Daily News: "In Franklin, decades of rapid growth haven't changed community's downtown feel"
"When Rick Herrick was growing up, he could walk down Main Street and know most people by name, and the rest by sight.
“That’s not the case anymore, but, that being said, there’s still a great sense of community, which I think is kind of unique," said Herrick, a Realtor with Berkshire Hathaway Homeservices Commonwealth Real Estate. "People that come to Franklin, it seems like they set roots there and they don’t want to leave.”
Herrick has seen it firsthand — he’s been selling real estate for more than 30 years. He’s worked with people who grew up in, and wanted to buy a home in Franklin, and then another home as their family grew and a third when they want to downsize."
Milford Daily News: "In Franklin, decades of rapid growth haven't changed community's downtown feel" |