Started to photograph the new building, but just decided to take a bunch of pictures of the whole northern side of the Square. They are just cell phone pics, but I tried to capture a lot of the little pieces of design and wayfinding details that add a lot to the experience (murals, planters, parklets etc).
The intersection of Belgrade and Robert leaves much to be desired. I know the Orthodox church is a major part of the community, but I wish they could develop the street facing part of it. Also, adding height to Sullivans pharmacy and the bank next door, along with reducing the roadway width on all of those roads would do wonders to making more of a gateway to the area. The granite wall along Belgrade against the MBTA station could be improved with a few minor details to make the streetscape less bland on that side, but the brewery and the square root café have added a lot of activity to the other side. The MBTA lot could be easily improved with minimal landscaping, but I won’t hold my breath. If they could develop the lot occupied by citizens Bank, that would also be a major improvement/gateway. Overall, though, lots of places were lots of little improvements have gone a very long way to making for a pleasant and urban pedestrian experience. The pics as usual dont really capture the overall sense.
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Improvements on Poplar with planters and sidewalk art
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This parklet, along with the lighting in the alley leading to the surface parking lot, a half block up (not pictured), are excellent touches.
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Another example of a parklet that filled in unnecessary pavement, and outdoor seating on Birch St. I am told the city still plans on closing Birch St permanently this summer.
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The patio for several restaurants is awesome in the summer. The lantern lighting and Greek plaques on the alley are a nice design touch.
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Good design elements here, but the intersection beyond is too wide, and feels even wider due to the single block heights of Sullivans and the church, and the parking lot for the bank. This area needs both development and further street narrowing.
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This sidewalkscape could be easily improved with more tree planters, and the patches of weeds above the granite (MBTA property) are a total disgrace. The T could very easily plant
something, anything, that would improve this stretch.
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Entrance to the tunnel from the north side is pretty good, another parklet/planted area on the right would do wonders though.
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Developing this lot to extend the streetwall up to the tracks will hopefully happen someday soon. A bank, pavement, and a patch of old cedar chips with yew bushes is not very pleasant.
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This corner is a small oasis and if you stand where I stood, you'll understand how nothing more than a small tree + green area + something so simple as a decorated abandoned phone booth completely changes the atmosphere.