The Downtown Taunton Development Study Team – including the Office of Economic and Community Development, the Heart of Taunton, the UMass Dartmouth Urban Initiative, and the Neighborhood Corporation – began its work early this spring. Assisting the Study are the Narrow Gate, an architectural and engineering firm, and Commonweal Collaborative, financial and historical consultants. Several other agencies and organizations, including the Old Colony Historical Society, have provided helpful background data in support of the project.
As part of the Study, a downtown property database, market analysis, parking and pedestrian analysis, and housing and foreclosure analysis are currently underway. In addition, three key downtown sites have been identified and are being studied in detail for their redevelopment potential, including structural assessments, zoning and code review, and reuse and financing options. These key sites are:
- Leonard Block/Star Theater, 107 Main Street
- Taunton Antiques Center, 21/25 Main Street (Union Block)
- Dorsey Property, 27 Main Street (Union Block)
Study data and plans will be made accessible to the public as they become available, both on this blog and at a series of Public Workshops.
Your input – whether as a resident, employee, business or property owner, community volunteer, or civic leader – is vital to this Study, and will provide the context within which recommendations for the revitalization of downtown Taunton will be developed. You are invited to share your ideas, questions, and concerns at our Public Workshops and/or by posting comments here.
While all comments are welcome, some questions to consider are:
- What types of development would you like to see in downtown Taunton (residential, commercial, civic, green space, etc.)?
- What types of business, amenities, or public facilities does downtown need?
- What are the positive aspects of downtown that you would like to see preserved?
- What are the negative aspects of downtown that you would like to see addressed?
- What would make downtown a more pleasant/convenient place to live and work?
- What would make downtown more attractive to new business and investment?
- What are your specific ideas/questions/concerns regarding the “key sites” being assessed in this study (the Leonard Block and Union Block buildings)?
- What would you like downtown Taunton to look like in 5 years? In 20 years?
Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts with the Downtown Taunton Development Study Team. We invite you to learn more about the Study, and provide further input, at our first Public Workshop:
DOWNTOWN TAUNTON: CHALLENGES & OPPORTUNITIES
Day Session: Wednesday, May 13 at 12pm, First Parish Church, Church Green, Taunton
Evening Session: Wednesday, May 20 at 7pm, Robertson on the River, 120 Ingell St., Taunton
(This Workshop is being offered twice to accommodate varying schedules; interested individuals need only attend one session.)
This event is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be provided. Childcare and translation services will be made available upon request. Contact the Neighborhood Corporation at 508-821-9347 or info@neighborhoodcorp.org for more information.
