SAUGUS – The town’s efforts to revitalize Cliftondale Square are building momentum.
A draft report from the Cliftondale Revitalization Committee offered a host of short-term and long-term recommendations to revitalize the area’s business and housing district.
Residents have expressed concern over the deterioration of the physical environment of buildings in Cliftondale Square, according to the report. Many shoppers who frequented the square have abandoned the area for retail offerings in other parts of town and surrounding communities, which have undergone revitalization efforts along the lines of what the committee hopes to implement in Cliftondale, the report added.
“This committee was formed to contest the notion that nothing can be done by breaking out each issue present in Cliftondale and elaborating on why the issues are present, then begin to construct a vision for the area through a thorough zoning guideline and implementable action plan along with recommendations for short-term and long-term projects and initiatives,” the report said.
According to the report, the biggest issue surrounding the area is parking.
“The town needs to work with these lot owners to create a parking and signage plan to help consolidate this parking and make it simpler for people to identify and utilize the existing spots,” the report stated. “On-street parking should be limited to intervals between 15 minutes and two hours, in order to encourage the use of these spots by customers and discourage use by employees and business owners. Enforcement of these timed parking restrictions should be enforced on a consistent basis to reinforce illegal parking habits that have been addressed by merchants and neighbors throughout this process.”
Parking is just the tip of the iceberg for the committee. They also have recommendations ranging from reforming the town merchant’s association; establishing a “Friends of Cliftondale” committee; bringing back Appreciation Day, a popular event that may help the marketing efforts in the square; to relocating the Farmer’s Market, now at Anna Parker Playground, back into Cliftondale Square.
The committee also hopes to brand Cliftondale Square as its own place and market the area as an “up-and-coming” district, specifically following the potential adoption of a zoning overlay, which may help attract prospective businesses, developers, consumers, and residents alike to Cliftondale, and encouraging public art by creating a mural program.
