Brazilian biz owners skeptical of Framingham traffic plans
Streamlining intersection could cut down foot traffic
Any proposed redevelopment of the downtown Framingham rail crossing will have to go through Gilmar DeOliveira.
DeOliveira, owner of Thiaggo's Video and Photo Productions on Concord Street, adjacent to an embattled Framingham intersection, said he would just as soon see the city leave the intersection alone, rather than disrupt the cluster of Brazilian businesses in the area that rely on the heavy foot and car traffic in the area to survive.
"Everyone that has businesses around here thinks it shouldn't happen," said DeOliveira. "It's going to kill businesses over here."
Problem area
DeOliveira is one of several Brazilian business owners in the area that might be affected by any redevelopment of the intersection of Routes 126, 135 and the east/west rail line between Boston and Worcester. Proposals for fixing the crossing have included creating a rail bypass around the city and creating an underpass or bridge for the railroad.
Any redevelopment would likely close or severely constrict the downtown business district, said Joao Freitas, Brazilian representative on the Framingham Planning Board's downtown crossing task force.
DeOliveira said he has been hearing talk of redeveloping the intersection since coming to Framingham 20 years ago. The uncertainty surrounding the plans have made it difficult to keep his business growing, he said.
DeOliveira said he planned to buy a property a few years ago currently owned by CSX Corp., the national rail freight company that owns the tracks in Framingham, that sits just next to the train tracks. Uncertainty over plans for redeveloping the intersection, however, scared him off. Instead, he continues to rent his space at 17 Concord St.
Freitas, co-owner of Vera Jewelers on Concord Street, said a lack of any concrete timetable and a coherent, presentable plan for the area makes it difficult to get the businesses in the area involved in the planning process.
At a recent master planning workshop, there was no one present to take advantage of a Portugese translator brought in to help the Brazilian community participate.
"We have to start talking about it, but we also have to start seeing how the plan is going to be played," Freitas said.
DeOliveira said he understood the community's frustration with traffic in the downtown area, especially when a train passes through, but he said it is that traffic that sustains his business and the businesses around him.
"For me, closing this intersection and doing lots of work would be a big loss. It's busy here," he said.
WBJ Web Partners
Most Recent
0 Comments