FM #962 - Franklin For All #5 - Walkability & Density - 03/15/23

This session of the radio show shares the audio recording of the housing and zoning discussion with Brad Chafee, Melanie Hamblen, Cobi Frongillo and Dean College Chancellor Ed Augustus. 

Brad, Melanie, Ed and I were in the Franklin TV Studio on Wednesday, March 15, 2023. Cobi joined us for the discussion via Zoom.

Consider this a continuation of the downtown zoning discussion from the “Franklin For All” project which is underway with review and discussion at the Economic Development Subcommittee Plus meetings that Melanie Chairs and for which Cobi is Vice-Chair.  

We were joined by Chancellor Ed Augustus for this session to include his insights as former Town Manager of Worcester, MA and the lessons from the Worcester experience that might be considered for Franklin. 

The recording of our conversation on zoning runs about 57 minutes. Let’s listen in.

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Principles of walkability: useful, safe, comfortable, and interesting. Watch the TED Talk with Jeff Speck - https://www.ted.com/talks/jeff_speck_the_walkable_city

Jane Jacobs writer and activist on urban design wrote her book in 1961  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Death_and_Life_of_Great_American_Cities  

Center for Living City is an organization that continues in the spirit of her work ->    https://centerforthelivingcity.org/janejacobs/#jane-and-the-center

Other podcast episodes in this series:

4th discussion with Melanie and Cobi included Brad (FM #942) ->

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2023/02/listen-to-this-discussion-on-housing.html 

3rd discussion with Melanie and Cobi included Joel D’errico  (FM #922) ->

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2023/01/downtown-zoning-discussion-with-derrico.html 

2nd discussion with Melanie and Cobi in December (FM #904) -> 

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2022/12/downtown-zoning-discussion-with.html 

1st discussion on Franklin For All project -> (FM # 755) https://www.franklinmatters.org/2022/03/this-franklin-for-all-discussion.html

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The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana"  c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission.

I hope you enjoy!

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