A routine discussion regarding downtown parking conditions during last night’s Board of Selectmen meeting shifted toward urban renewal and the potential creation of an outdoor pedestrian shoppers mall in the uptown business district.
Parking Commissioner Swift opened the topic by expressing growing concern over a rising number of vacant storefronts along Washington Street—tallying nine empty locations at last count. “Have you any idea what can be done up here?” Swift asked, noting that the loss of business establishments along main thoroughfares reflects a nationwide retail trend. He suggested that Norwood, as a relatively young community, might qualify for federal urban renewal funds.
Exploring a Pedestrian Mall Concept
Building on the suggestion, Selectman John A. Abdallah raised the possibility of transforming the uptown area into a dedicated shoppers mall by permanently barring vehicular traffic. Pointing to a successful precedent on Westminster Street in Providence, Rhode Island—which utilized 90 percent federal aid to raise the street to sidewalk level, plant trees, install public settees, and refurbish storefronts—Abdallah suggested that Central Street, which runs parallel to Washington Street, could be adapted as the primary vehicular thoroughfare.
Selectman Joseph F. Curran countered that retail vacancies stemmed from more than just traffic and parking hurdles, arguing that local merchants needed to modernize their business practices. Curran pointed out that most Washington Street stores shut their doors at 6:00 p.m. every night except Friday, whereas suburban shopping centers maintained extended evening hours.
When Selectman Chairman Charles L. Rich inquired whether the parking commission could evaluate the proposal, Swift initially recommended commissioning a professional study. However, he ultimately agreed to have the parking commission compile a preliminary report and present its findings to the board in October.
Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger
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