It’s "One of the things that defines Manville"
By:Eric Schwarz
A different business environment pervades South Main Street south of Camplain Road, the revitalization plan consultants said last week.
Camplain Road and South Main Street is the dividing line for the proposed Town Center and South Main districts.
"The area between Camplain and CVS (Plaza) is a world unto itself for a lot of reasons," said Mark Keener, a partner in Brown & Keener, lead consultants on the revitalization study.
"The Camplain-Main Street intersection is a bit of a gap in terms of retail frontages," Mr. Keener said. "I think it’s one of the things that defines Manville.
Because the real estate market and small-business owners like to own their own properties, this could be a professional services area, Mr. Keener said.
Economic development consultant James E. Hartling said Camplain and Main is a "hostile" corner for pedestrians.
"When we talk to people there, they say how difficult it is to get across the street," he said.
Mr. Hartling also brought up the question of how far people will walk in a car-oriented culture.
"People go into a mall, they walk four blocks and they don’t know it," Mr. Hartling said. "If they walk one block in nice weather, they think they’ve walked 40."
In the South Main district, a former hardware store next to the gazebo and parking lot would become a restaurant, Mr. Hartling said.
Mr. Hartling said Manville can support another 20,000 square feet of restaurants.
And some of the other storefronts would become home to professionals.
"Every doctor and lawyer wants to be in Somerville," said Jack Zalewski, owner of Fucillo and Warren Funeral Home.
Mr. Hartling said professionals such as accountants and development consultants, though, might choose Manville.