SAUGUS — Cliftondale Square has been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the nine-member committee assigned last February to find solutions is ready to share its early findings with the public.
The committee to revitalize the Square has invited the public to its next meeting. Saugus residents can attend either in person next Monday at the MEG building, beginning at 6 p.m., or participate via Zoom.
At that time, said member Joe Vecchione in an email, the committee will deliver an update on its revitalization plans.
The program will include the presentation of community survey results — in which upwards of 350 residents participated, Vecchione said — and an analysis drawn from that survey on trends and demographics, followed by a brief question-and-answer session.
“This will also include the sharing of information we have gained since the inception of this committee,” Vecchione said, “including the procurement of flashing crossing beacons, application for the Shared Street grant, denial of the church parking, and North Shore Bank not currently for sale.”
Once the presentation is finished, the committee will begin a workshopping session, which will be “a bit more interactive,” Vecchione said.
“One particular exercise I felt was effective and interactive was a series of physical blown-up maps where participants could jot down an idea, shortfall or potential remedy of a particular issue on a sticky note and place it on the map,” Vecchione said. “Each map focuses on a particular issue (in this case: parking, safety, developmental opportunities, underutilization, etc.).
“This is a simple, straightforward and not overly restricting exercise that could be beneficial in creating a wealth of ideas especially after results of the survey are shared with those present,” he said. “At each table, I will print out smaller maps and supplemental material that members of the public can sketch whatever they want on. This is an informal, passive and supplemental exercise that can engage the more introverted members of the public, which sometimes yielded the better ideas.”
Vecchione, an architect, reminded committee members that “the concept of the Big Dig was sketched on a napkin at Jacob Wirth’s Pub” in Boston.
Additionally, he said, both in the meetings and online survey, participation by business owners and stakeholders is moderately lower than he would have preferred.
“In order to rectify this issue, I am asking for assistance from committee members to pass out flyers in the coming weeks and/or speak with business owners and stakeholders in Cliftondale to try to get as many of them aware and engaged as possible,” he said.
The committee was established in February after unanimous approval at Town Meeting.
“Given the decline of the district for many years, expedited by (the COVID-19) pandemic, I believe there is a window to begin revitalization efforts that have long been talked about but never implemented,” Vecchione said at the time.
Cliftondale has suffered in the wake of the pandemic, experiencing a rash of recent business closings, with the branch of North Shore Bank shutting down and the branch of Webster First Federal Credit Union closing. The Tumble Inn Diner, One Stop Market, and a hair salon have also shut their doors.
Steve Krause can be reached at [email protected].