Tuesday, April 29, 2014

We Love Our Sponsors!

THANK YOU!  THANK YOU!  THANK YOU!

It is because of your sponsorship support that the Partnership is able to continue to have our events each year

The Partnership is planning for our upcoming Beautification Day and Strawberry Stroll.  Please e-mail us at downtown.franklin@yahoo.com by May 5th if you would like to be a sponsor so we can include you in the promotional materials.

Here are this year's sponsorship levels for all of the 2014 events: 

Strawberry Stroll Sponsorship Levels:
Friends:     $200
Bronze:      $300
Silver:        $500
Platinum:   $2,000

Please e-mail the FDP office at downtown.franklin@yahoo.com if you are planning to sponsor so we can list you on all of the press materials.

Thank you again for your interest and continued support!




Monday, April 28, 2014

Town Posts Request for Expression of Interest Document

The Town of Franklin has posted the official Request for Expressions of Interest for the 150 Emmons Street property on its website. Below is the first page of the document. To see the entire document, click here

Anyone interested in joining the Emmons Street Steering Committee should contact Denise Schultz at deniselynnschultz@gmail.com

150 Emmons Street, Franklin, MA


Request for Expressions of Interest


150 Emmons Street, Franklin, MA


The Town of Franklin is pleased to present this Request for Expressions of Interest (REI) for the future redevelopment of 150 Emmons Street, site of the former Municipal Building. The Town-owned property consists of one (1) parcel totaling 34,795+/- square feet (0.7988+/- acres), located at one of the key gateways to Franklin Center and adjacent to Dean College. The Town has chosen to proceed with a REI at this time to solicit informal, yet serious proposals, subject to the process detailed herein, from qualified developers and other interested parties who wish to purchase or lease and redevelop the property.
The REI process is critical for a better understanding of existing market conditions, the formation of potential development options for the property, and the identification of community priorities. This process will provide the community with the information needed to ensure a meaningful and productive public process, which will lead to a formal Request for Proposals (RFP) in autumn of 2014. The Town has the following goal for the development of the 150 Emmons Street site:
Redevelopment of the site into a key gateway into Downtown Franklin, which will maximize short-term and long-term benefits to the Town and its residents.
Each Expression of Interest must include a letter of interest and a project description/narrative. The letter of interest must be signed by the principals, describe the proponent’s interest in the property and the general intentions concerning the future use of the site. This letter shall also contain the nature and status of the organization acting as the proponent (whether a non-profit or charitable institution, a corporation, a business association, or a joint venture) and the jurisdiction in which it is registered to conduct business. The project description must include narrative that provides an overview of the proposal, the market niche the project intends to serve, the experience and qualifications of the development team, and the capabilities the developer can marshal to achieve project objectives. A description of expected financial benefits to the Town, both short-term and long-term, must be included in each Expression of Interest.
The Town offers you the opportunity to learn more about the site through participation in an Information Session and Site Tour scheduled for Wednesday, May 21, 2014 at 10 a.m. The Town invites you to examine the information contained within this document, its attachments, and related reference documents that are available for review in the Department of Planning and Community Development during normal business hours (Monday, Tuesday and Thursday - 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Wednesday - 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM, and Friday - 8:00 AM to 1:00 P.M), or on the Town’s website (http://town.franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_Planning/150EmmonsREI).
The Town hopes to hear from individuals and organizations who will present compelling and appropriate development proposals for the use of 150 Emmons Street. Please submit Expressions of Interest to the Department of Planning and Community Development by Thursday, July 31, 2014 at 4:00 p.m.
Bryan Taberner, AICP, Director
Department of Planning and Community Development 355 East Central Street
Franklin, MA 02038
508-520-4907
Fax: 508-520-4906   

                                

Thursday, April 24, 2014

2014 Strawberry Stroll Planning

Strawberry Stroll -- June 12th

If you are interested in participating in the Strawberry Stroll please fill out the Application Form by May 5th and e-mail to Nicole Fortier, chairperson, at nfortier@deanbank.com, or Jane Curran, co-chair, at janeframe@verizon.net.




Reminder: Your 2014 Membership needs to be sent in before you can participate. 

Finally, a note about Sponsorships:
Please e-mail the FDP office at downtown.franklin@yahoo.com if you plan to sponsor Beautification Day or the Strawberry Stroll so we can get you on the promotional materials.



Luncheon Next Week

Please join us!

Networking Luncheon
Friday, May 2nd 1:00 pm
Dean College Dining Hall
$6.50
Come enjoy meeting other FDP members
Please e-mail Joel Carrara at jcarrara@printsmartoffice.com

Monday, April 21, 2014

May 1 General Meeting Agenda

Franklin Downtown Partnership General Meeting Agenda
Thursday, May 1, 2014, 8:30 a.m.
Dean College Campus Center
Golder Room

I.     Open Meeting

II.    Adoption of Agenda

III.   Introductions

IV.   Town Update -- Jeff Nutting, Town Administrator
       a.  Streetscape
            i.    Construction schedule update
            ii.   Introduce Maxine Kinhart
            iii.  Communications logistics
            iv.  Update on island design and plantings
       b.  Emmons Street project
            i.   Next steps
            ii.  Updates on possible state funding options
       c.  Other town updates

V.    Report from Executive Director
       a.  Brochure/Map project
       b.  FDP Event Calendar -- review (handout)
       c.  Membership/Sponsorship
       d.  Steering Committee for Emmons Street project
       e.  "Adopt a Block" -- Devin Gray

VI.   Strawberry Stroll Committee -- Nicole, Jane, Bryan

VII.   Networking Luncheon -- Joel Carrara

VIII.  Beautification Committee -- Eileen Mason

IX.    New Business
        Ladybug Project -- Franklin Cultural Committee

X.    Adjourn

Beautification Day:  May 17th


Emmons Street Steering Committee

Steering Committee for Emmons Street Property

Anyone who is interested in attending the Emmons Street Steering Committee Meeting please contact Denise Schultz at deniselynnschultz@gmail.com so she can add you to the e-mail list.



Thursday, April 17, 2014

Beautification Day Press Release

Brush off your garden gloves and dig in the dirt with the Franklin Downtown Partnership and the Franklin Garden Club on Saturday, May 17. The 11th annual Beautification Day will run from 9 a.m. to Noon, rain or shine. Volunteers and donations are needed to help make this project a success.
This year organizers were extra thoughtful when planning the plantings, choosing flowers and a blue and pink color scheme with recent community events and the streetscape construction project in mind.
“We were thinking about children, in the wake of losing several young adults and children in town this year,” says Eileen Mason, Beautification Day chairperson. “Our hope is that everyone who sees these flowers will think of their children and embrace their individuality, creativity and zest for life.”
Pink and white petunias and blue and white Lobelia, provided by Fairmount Fruit Farm in Franklin, are colorful and hardy plants that should last all season in full sunlight and a harsh construction environment.
The flowers will be displayed in boxes on the bridges and in front of some downtown businesses, but not in planter barrels on the center island this year due to road construction. Volunteers will also plant flowers and mulch the memorial gardens on the Town Common.
Residents, especially students in need of community service hours, who are interested in volunteering should contact Eileen Mason at emason11@verizon.net. Volunteers will meet at 9:00 a.m. on the center island in front of the Rome Restaurant. Anyone with a pickup truck is asked to help transport plants from Fairmount Farm at 8:00 a.m. Each year, Franklin Ford donates the use of their truck, which is a huge help to volunteers.
“We’re fortunate to have the help of the Franklin High School hockey teams and a great group of volunteers from the YMCA helping again this year. This is a wonderful opportunity for the community to create a welcoming image,” Mason adds.
Sponsors and donations are needed to help offset the costs of the Beautification Day committee’s year-round planning, growing, planting and maintenance efforts. For as little as $150, businesses or residents can be a bronze sponsor. Watering help will also be needed in the greenspace garden across from the Mega Bites Deli.
Gold and platinum-level sponsors will have their names prominently displayed on signs for the 2014 season. Silver sponsors will have their name displayed on a group sign for the remainder of the year. Details about sponsorship can be found at franklindowntownpartnership.org/.
The Franklin Downtown Partnership is a non-profit, 501(c)3 organization and all contributions are tax deductible. Please make checks out to: Franklin Downtown Partnership, P.O. Box 413, Franklin, MA, 02038.
For more information about the Partnership, membership, or the FDP’s mission, projects and events, contact Executive Director Lisa Piana at (774) 571-3109 or downtown.franklin@yahoo.com, or go to franklindowntownpartnership.org/.

###




FDP Hires Communications Coordinator Press Release

Partnership Hires Communications Coordinator

The Franklin Downtown Partnership recently hired Terri Frank as the non-profit organization’s Communications Coordinator. Frank, a resident of Franklin, has worked as a volunteer for the Partnership for the past five years.

In addition to her PR and website responsibilities, her new duties will include acting as Coordinator for the new Franklin Map/Brochure, which will be published early this summer. She will also be the Crafter Chairperson for the FDP’s Harvest Festival, set for October 5.

Terri Frank can be reached at terrifrank1@gmail.com.

For more information please contact Executive Director Lisa Piana at (774) 571-3109 or downtown.franklin@yahoo.com. 


Monday, April 14, 2014

Important Announcements, Dates to Note

Important FDP Reminders:
Please read all the way to the bottom so you don't miss out on important dates ...


Membership
2014 membership due APRIL 30th.
You need to have your membership paid in order to receive a free business listing in the new Franklin Brochure. Please fill out the application with your check.




Sponsorship
Beautification Day (May 17) and Strawberry Stroll (June 12) sponsorships are due in May. If you are planning to sponsor, please e-mail the FDP office at downtown.franklin@yahoo.com so we can include you on the flyers.




Steering Committee for Emmons Street Property
If you are interested in participating in the Steering Committee that will be developing ideas for the Emmons Street property, please contact Denise Schultz at deniselynnschultz@gmail.com or the FDP office at downtown.franklin@yahoo.com.





Economic Development Meeting
Wednesday, April 16th, 5:30 p.m.
Town Hall



Town Council Meeting
Wednesday, April 16th, 7:00 p.m.
Town Hall



Town Cultural District Meeting
Thursday, April 24th at 7 p.m. in the Community Room of the Franklin Public Library. 
Note:  Rescheduled from April 17th. The primary purpose of the meeting will be for the Cultural District Partnership (governance/management structure) to form and begin moving forward as its own entity. This meeting will also serve as a means for continued discussion about the Cultural District's geographic location (map critique) and discussion about the purpose and function of the Cultural District in general for the Town. Contact: btaberner@franklin.ma.us.



FDP General Meeting
Thursday, May 1st
8:30 a.m. at Dean College
Agenda will be posted on the website shortly.



Beautification Day
Saturday, May 17th, 9:00 a.m.
All businesses should remove holiday greens from their barrels this week. Contact Eileen Mason  at emason11@verizon.net if you plan to volunteer.

Photo courtesy of the Franklin Garden Club



Franklin Brochure Map
All paid 2014 FDP businesses will receive a free listing.  Terri Frank will be emailing advertising options soon. Please note there is very limited space to advertise, so if you are interested you should contact Terri as soon as you receive this information. Since the brochure will be printed by the end of May, we will Not be able to include any members who pay their membership late.



Harvest Festival
The booth form will be posted on the FDP website June 15th.  Terri Frank will be the contact this year and will be sending out information to current members. 2014 members will get a chance to sign up early before non-members.





Cultural Council Meeting to be April 24

The Cultural District meeting has been rescheduled:

The next Cultural District Meeting is Thursday, April 24th at 7PM in the Community Room of the Franklin Public Library.

The primary purpose of the meeting will be for the Cultural District Partnership (governance/management structure) to form and begin moving forward as its own entity. This meeting will also serve as a means for continued discussion about the Cultural District's geographic location (map critique) and discussion about the purpose and function of the Cultural District in general for the Town.


Click here to download this flyer.


Monday, April 7, 2014

Emmons Street Summary, Next Steps

For those of you who may have missed the recent Town Council meeting discussion on April 2 regarding the Emmons Street property this is a brief summary:


About 50 people attended the April 2 Town Council meeting, and more than a dozen residents, organization representatives and business owners spoke during the citizens comment period.


Several councilors then spoke before Councilor Matt Kelly made a motion to add a resolution to the April 16 Town Council meeting. The resolution, which passed unanimously, will authorize an "Expression of Interest" in which proposals will be accepted for 90 days. At the end of that period, the Economic Development Committee will make a final report to be presented at the September 3 Town Council meeting.



Questions that still need answers:
The Partnership Board of Directors recommended that the Town Council give the community time to work together to further develop ideas and research funding options.  They also asked that the Council to take the time needed to answer the following important questions:

  1. What are the specific long-term goals for this property?
  2. What is the plan for where businesses will park during the construction project?
  3. How will losing the 50 parking spaces on this property affect downtown businesses?
  4. What will the new traffic patterns be after the streetscape project and the two-way traffic pattern is implemented?
  5. What state funding is available if the town considers a cultural center and greenspace?


Drive-thru options no longer being considered
In response to the FDP’s concern that the Town Council was considering a drive-thru retail business for the property, Councilor Matt Kelly assured the community that the Council is no longer considering any drive-thru options and will not be pursuing any type of drive-thru for this property.


Next Steps for community input
Community groups who are interested in a cultural/community center and greenspace/park at the Emmons Street location are now forming a steering committee to begin formulating more specific ideas.  Anyone interested in participating can contact Denise Schultz, deniselynnschultz@gmail.com, who will be setting up a meeting in the near future.


The next Economic Development meeting will be April 16th at 5:30 at Town Hall.


The Milford Daily News ran this story last Wednesday -- Franklin residents:  slow down on Emmons Street parcel by Matt Tota  http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20140403/NEWS/140408709/?tag=1


Steve Sherlock provided live reporting of the meeting on Franklin Matters and also posted this synopsis of the Emmons Street discussion --  http://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/04/this-is-just-discussion.html


The full text of Lisa Piana’s comments can be found here.


Sunday, April 6, 2014

Multi-Media Coverage of Emmons Street Discussion




Franklin Matters has posted an audio recording of the April 2 Town Council meeting and the Emmons Street discussion:  http://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/04/fm-104-150-emmons-st-discussion-at-town.html


In case you missed it, Franklin Matters also posted this synopsis of the meeting:   http://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/04/this-is-just-discussion.html


Finally, the Milford Daily News ran this story Wednesday -- Franklin residents:  slow down on Emmons Street parcel by Matt Tota  http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20140403/NEWS/140408709/?tag=1


Friday, April 4, 2014

Talking Points from Town Council Emmons Street Discussion

The following are the talking points presented by Executive Director Lisa Piana to the Town Council at the 7:00 p.m. meeting on April 2:


Message from the FDP Board to the Town Council -- April 2, 2014

The Partnership Board of Directors recently sent a letter to the Town Council recommending that they give the community time to further develop concepts for the Emmons Street property. We also recommended that the Town Council evaluate the potential traffic and parking issues prior to sending out an RFP.

We believe there is no downside to inviting the community to participate in the process. We think Franklin has some very talented residents who could offer some creative solutions.

The March 4th workshop was a great start, and we appreciated being invited to participate, but many of us were under the impression that there would be time to further develop ideas and research funding possibilities.  

We feel that there is no rush to sell this property, since we believe the land will only increase in value once the streetscape project is completed.

We understand that a few Town Council members want to sell the property as quickly as possible. However, we feel that there are 5 key questions that still need to be answered prior to putting out an RFP:  
  1. What are the specific long-term goals for this property?
  1. What is the plan for where businesses will park during the construction project?
    1. Businesses have been told for the last year that parking would be available at the Emmons Street property.
    2.  When Main Street is under construction, there needs to be a place for people to park.

  1. How will losing the 50 parking spaces on this property affect downtown businesses?
    1. It is important to be proactive and plan for the future parking needs and growth of the downtown.
  1. What will the new traffic patterns be after the streetscape project and the two-way traffic pattern is implemented?

  1. What state funding is available in the town considers a cultural center and greenspace?
    1. We have been told that there may be state funding available.
    2. We think it would be in the town’s best interest to pursue these options before deciding to sell the property.

The town is so fortunate to own this Gateway property. We have a chance to really put something special on Emmons Street.

Something special means different things to different people. One of the reasons the Partnership Board wrote the letter to the Town Council was because of some of the commercial ideas that were being talked about. When the developer started talking about a drive-thru coffee shop and a drive-thru drycleaners, we started to get calls and e-mails.

One of the concerns is that if the town loses control of this property and the wrong commercial business gets built, we could see traffic back-ups all the way to the Davis Thayer School.

The Partnership Board of Directors would like to recommend that the Town Council give the community time to work together with the Council, Jeff Nutting and the Planning Department to further develop ideas and research funding options.

We also ask the Council to take the time needed to answer the important questions that I just mentioned. Once these questions are answered, we believe the community will feel more comfortable with the final plan for this property.

We feel that the more ideas, facts and knowledge the town has, the better the final outcome will be for this important “Gateway” property.

Thank you.