We're all for walking, but what about those who can't?
The City of Newton’s ADA director Jini Fairly pointed out a glaring gap in the city’s restaurant landscape at a Land Use Committee meeting this week: The lack of businesses offering drive-through service.
“The struggle of getting in and out of a car is overwhelming for some people,” Fairly said, speaking in support of an application to add a drive-up window to the Dunkin' on Route 9/Boylston Street.
“[This would] be an incredible service to them,” she added.
It’s something I admit I haven’t spent enough time thinking about.
While we're always going to advocate for greater walkability, we should also be looking to accommodate those who can't walk.
Fairley noted that customers with both permanent and temporary disabilities have very few restaurant options (There's a drive-up window at McDonalds on California Street and a drive through Dunkin on Route 9 in Wellesley). Seniors and parents with small children, also benefit from drive throughs, she added.
In the COVID era, we’ve also gained awareness of people with underlying health conditions who are reluctant to enter places of business.
Still, the Dunkin special permit request is a tricky one.
The locally-owned and operated franchise has developed a plan that includes reducing parking from 23 to 9 spaces, adding landscaping (there's nothing but asphalt now) and eliminating a cut-though that’s dangerously used by many trucks these days.
But the city's traffic consultant has significant concerns about traffic occasionally backing up onto Route 9. That's likely a deal breaker.
Still this location is never going to be particularly pedestrian friendly or walkable. If the safety concerns could be addressed, a drive-though would offer an popular amenity for commuters as well as an underserved clientele.
Tax breaks program won't support remote workers
Businesses that receive economic development tax breaks will not be able to include fully remote employees towards their headcount, under a new state policy.
The Economic Development Incentive Program has awarded millions of dollars in incentives to large employers like Wayfair Inc. and MassMutual as well as small manufacturers and retailers, writes Greg Ryan at the BBJ.
In order to qualify for a tax incentive, companies have to pledge to employ a certain number of people at a particular site in Massachusetts, often new construction.
Under the new policy, only workers who live in Massachusetts and come to the property tied to the tax break at least twice a week, will count towards the employer’s job target.
The measure does not apply to prior agreements.
Apartment demand – and high rents – are back
The vacancy rate in the Boston-area apartment market took a beating during the height of the pandemic.
Now it’s rebounding sharply, reports Jon Banister at Bisnow.
Apartment rents last quarter experienced an 11% year-over-year increase, the largest annual rent spike in the last 20 years, according to a Colliers report.
Asking rents across the Greater Boston area averaged $2,457, and rents in Boston proper averaged $3,176.
Hospital violence hits alarming highs too
US hospitals are asking for more federal support, but this time it’s for panic buttons instead of protective gear.
Citing rising violence and harassment in hospitals, the American Hospital Association is seeking $25 billion in government funds for hospital security investments, reports Bloomberg.
“It’s hard to be in health care right now,” said one hospital administrator. “It’s even harder if you feel threatened at your job.”
MBTA eyes Charlie Card changes
As the MBTA prepares to roll out a new fare collection system, some features we’ve becoming accustomed to may disappear.
The first would be free Charlie Cards.
T leaders would like to impose a $3 fee to acquire a new standard, temporary or mobile card.
The second would be the ability to take your loaded Charlie Card, slide it though the fare gate and then pass it back to friends or out-of-state visitors so your guests can follow.
The T says these changes are needed as part of its "Fare Transformation" project which will allow passengers to board buses and above-ground trolleys via all doors (a good thing in our Green Line communities) rather than just the front doors near the farebox, reports State House News’ Chris Lisinski
The $3 fee would apply to Charlie Cards but not the credit cards or mobile wallets like Apple Pay or Google Pay options that will also be part of the new system.
The T will run a public comment period through the end of March soliciting feedback on these and other alterations to how riders pay for their trips.
Meanwhile, fare revenue for the MBTA so far this fiscal year is trending above the pessimistic forecast used to create the transit authority’s budget, reports Bruce Mohl at CommonWealth. |
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