The crowd in attendance
Monday evening was sizeable with nearly 30 people squeezed into the
small classroom on the first floor of the TAB. The meeting's agenda
included presentations about constructions and business developments
followed by crime updates and then a discussion of The Davis Square
Task Force's future.

The first project brought to the floor
was a presentation on the plans for constructing new townhouses at the
Carli Fence Site on Willow and Newberne Street. The presentation was
given in part by project architect Peter Quinn who said, "The Bike path
will be the address" of the new townhouses.

In the past,
various developers have proposed plans for the Carli Fence Site, but
those plans usually consisted of 10 to 20 new residential units. The
current plan will only be comprised of seven units. There will also be
21 parking spaces available to the location, which is far in excess of
parking requirements for that site. Quinn hopes that by building new
homes by the bike path, it will encourage residents to walk to the T
and use bikes for their commutes. "The bike path is such an amenity to
this community," Quinn said.

This plan was greeted with
positive reactions from everyone on the Davis Square Task Force. It was
mentioned though that the Bike Path should be accurately be referred to
as "The Community Path" as people do not just bike on it.

J.P.
Sacco, owner and proprietor of Sacco's Bowling Haven, Davis Square's
historic bowling alley, introduced Jay Gould, owner of the chain
"Flatbread All Natural Pizza." Sacco intends on selling Gould his
bowling alley, explaining, "I have been attempting to get out of the
bowling business." The Sacco family has been running bowling alleys
since 1895. Sacco's Bowling Haven in Davis Square has existed since
1939.

Speaking to the Task Force, Gould explained he wants not
only to be in the Davis Square, but "to be a part of the community."
Gould plans on transforming Sacco's Bowling Haven into another
restaurant in his chain of "Flatbread All Natural Pizzas." But bowlers
should not fear – Gould plans on keeping 10 bowling lanes open, so
families and friends can continue to bowl. Unfortunately for billiards
enthusiasts, the pool hall will be removed for the restaurant.

Gould
plans on keeping the façade of the building basically the same, with
the minor addition of a small "Flatbread Pizza" sign. He will also be
applying for a full liquor license, though Gould was quick to add his
restaurants are all about families. "The kids can run around in our
restaurants," Gould explained, "and if the parents don't like it we
tell them to leave."

When asked if he would still pursue this
project if the liquor license was not approved Gould said, "No, I like
to have a beer with my pizza."

Also at the meeting was a
presentation about turning a reconverting a vacant property near the
Powderhouse Rotary back into a convenience store and a brief update on
the plans for a new hotel in the Davis Square area.

Although
the plans for the hotel are still in beginning stages, there was one
irate attendee at the meeting who adamantly opposed the idea of a new
hotel in Davis Square. "The hotels in Somerville have led to nothing
but drugs and prostitution," she said, "we do not need a hotel."

But
without definite plans for location or even the size of the hotel, this
argument will have to be heard again and debated at many meetings in
Somerville's future.

Later in the evening there was a
suggestion by Michele Biscoe, representative of the dog walking
committee, that dog walkers who frequent Davis Square at night should
organize a crime watch. "We want to motivate dog owners to do something
to make small business owners and their customers feel more safe,"
Biscoe said.

Biscoe and others suggested that when walking dogs
through Davis at night, dog walkers could keep a vigilante eye for
anything suspicious going on. But one member of the meeting was quick
to note that most of the violence and criminal problems occur after
midnight – a time when most people are not walking there dogs.

"It
would never substitute for the police department," Biscoe asserted.
"Its about eyes and ears. This is not about sicking your dog on
somebody." Whether dog walkers will actually organize to become a crime
watch will be subject to future development.

Other discussions
included the recent shooting and carjacking by Diva and whether later
hours at bars and criminal activity should lead to more late night
police details.

The Davis Square Task Force meets regularly
throughout the year. Everyone is welcome to come to the meetings to
hear about recent developments in the Davis Square area.

The
Task Force was founded in 1977 while the Red Line Extension into Davis
Square was still in the planning stages. Since then it has initiated
many projects, many of which led to the redevelopment of Davis Square
in the 1980s. The Task Force is committed to keeping an open dialogue
between the residents of Somerville and the small business owners that
make Davis Square such a thriving commercial center.