Parking -With new restaurants and businesses opening in the Downtown, parking has become a priority, and sometimes a challenge. The Town recently secured an agreement for 43 parking spaces in the existing Schneider Electric lot located off Railroad Ave, at the end of Bird St. The public spaces are striped yellow. The Town is also working on creating additional parking areas in the area, and is hoping businesses with parking will work together to allow off-peak shared use. Please be patient and consider walking a bit if needed. Businesses appreciate the effort!
Traffic -The Town is also looking at traffic congestion and circulation in the Downtown area. Engineers are performing traffic counts and analyses to determine if there are changes to be made to improve traffic conditions. The Town is also looking at pedestrian safety and walkability of the Downtown area.
Wayfinding/Signage –The Town and local businesses have been working on improving directional signs in the Downtown area. A proposed wayfinding sign plan will be presented to the Board of Selectmen this fall. As part of this effort, the Town will also be removing 30+ duplicate and unneeded signs around the Common. Reducing sign clutter and improving directional signs should go a long way to guiding visitors to stores and parking areas.
Union Straw Restaurant –Located at 8 Bird St, opened in December, and became a welcome addition to the Downtown. According to their website, the restaurant is “a fun & comfortable upscale American restaurant”.
Marilyn Rodman Performing Arts Center -Continues to offer varied programming for all. According to their website, the theater is a “regional community resource for both entertainment as well as where non-profits or civic organizations can hold fund raisers, productions or shows.”
Sam’s Place Restaurant -New Life Upholstery at 34 Central Street recently closed due retirement. A new 1,500 square foot restaurant, Sam’s Place, with 48 dining seats and 12 bar seats will open in its place. The menu will feature pizza, salads, grilled foods and a full service bar.
Update on the Old Fire Station -Earlier this year, the Town issued a Request for Proposals (“RFP”) for the redevelopment of the former fire station at 40 School Street and the former Keating Funeral Home at 21 Market Street (both now owned by the town). Three qualified proposals were received and reviewed by the Town’s Economic Development Committee (“EDC”), before being forwarded to the Board of Selectmen for their consideration. [By way of background, the Board of Selectmen initially developed the Industrial Development Committee in 2000 but reshaped it into the EDC in 2014. This subcommittee to the Selectmen was formed to “look at what types of project(s) would be most preferable for the community and whether it would applicable to the chosen site before being submitted to the Planning Board. Such a committee would try to get a handle on what is good for the Town and what is reflective of the Town's economic development direction. This Committee would be proactive and seek out desirable types of businesses.” (Foxborough Board of Selectmen minutes of May 23, 2000.)] Using the evaluation criteria outlined in the RFP, the EDC ranked the three proposals based on (i) consistency with project vision, (ii) consistency with downtown vision and strategy, (iii) qualifications of project team, (iv) project feasibility including ability to obtain financing and (v) project timing. Douglas A. King Builders achieved the highest score after the EDC ratings were tallied. The King plan proposes to keep and renovate the existing fire station to accommodate a new brew pub style restaurant (Shovel Town Brewery) and four upstairs apartments (studio and onebedroom). A second building is proposed (on the site of the former funeral home) consisting of 15 one-bedroom apartments. Parking for all 19 apartments would be provided on site. The Board of Selectmen is currently reviewing the project under the Municipal Conversion Permit (“MCP”), which must be issued prior to the sale of the property. If the MCP is granted, the applicant would then apply to the Planning Board for special permits/site plan review. In the meantime, the Town is looking at traffic, congestion, signage and parking improvements to occur before the opening of the brew pub. Stay tuned for more details on this project.
Upcoming Events
• 9/4, 10/2, 11/6 12/4 & 1/8: FCBC Monthly Meetings: Marilyn Rodman Performing Arts Center, 7:00 am coffee and networking; 7:30 – 8:30 am FCBC meeting.
• 10/26: Halloween parade (morning) & Uncommon Pumpkin Patch on the Common (evening).
• 11/30: Light the Night on the Common - Singing, reading of How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Santa & Mrs. Claus arrive, tree lighting on the Common.
Who is the FCBC?
We are the Foxborough Common Business Collaborative (or FCBC), made up of Downtown merchants and our supporters. We have opened membership to all businesses in the Town of Foxborough with the understanding that our focus is on the Downtown. Residents are invited (and encouraged) to participate. Meetings are typically the first Wednesday of the month at 7 am (coffee and networking; 7:30 – 8:30 am business) at the Marilyn Rodman Performing Arts Center. All are welcome to attend.
The Purpose of the FCBC is:
1. To maintain and facilitate growth within the downtown community. Collectively the business owners aim to create a Downtown Business District which attracts a wide audience to live, work, and play.
2. To promote, represent, and manage an environment to support Foxborough's Downtown Business District as a destination for business, economic, arts, cultural and residential uses.
Email: [email protected]
Mail: FCBC 40 South Street Foxborough, MA 02035
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