Written by Preparations for the start of Clinton’s $4.5 million downtown revitalization project began this week, with work scheduled to start on Monday, September 21.
Today, Community and Economic Development Director Phil Duffy, project liaison Mike Tusino and I went door-to-door on High and Church streets, dropping off information and letting business owners and residents know about what’s in store over the next few months. It was great to talk to everyone, to hear their excitement and concerns, and to think about how different downtown will look in a year.
To be clear, this is a major project, and there will be disruptions. But when it’s over, Clinton will have a better, safer, more beautiful downtown that will benefit everyone who works, lives and spends time here.
Work begins Monday with the removal of trees and testing of soil for future drainage work. The current timeline calls for a 45-week project, with a likely break as the weather gets colder. As information is available to us, we will share it online at our new Downtown Revitalization web page. There, you can see what’s in store for the next few weeks, and find contact information for questions and concerns, as well as a link to sign up to our email update list.
We are making every effort to keep everyone on the same page here. If you’re interested in learning more about this truly transformative project, visit the Downtown Revitalization page today.
Sean Kerrigan, Clinton Select Board 
Will the memorial bricks along the sidewalks be moved to a new prominent location to add two feet to the width of High Street? With trucks getting longer, when they are parked during the winter they pose a traffic problem. I hope the new project will address this problem.
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The contractor has said they’ll do their best to preserve the bricks but we’re being realistic: Since most are well set, there’s a good chance they all won’t make it. We have photographs of each of them and are working to develop a more permanent memorial to all those whose names are on them.
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Thanks for the response to my question unfortunately it did not address my question of would High Street be made wider than the current width.
The removed memorial bricks could be placed in a selected section of a sidewalk somewhere in the area. Increasing the width of High Street by two feet would be a great help, especially during the winter snow months.
Thanks for making sure that this is done right.
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Sorry I misunderstood your question. Thanks for clarifying. The plans as I understand them don’t call for major widening of the street. We’re looking at this as an overall downtown project that focuses on people, not just cars. When it’s done, however, the entire downtown district will be safer and easier to negotiate for everyone.
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Thanks for your response. I am sorry to hear that High Street will not be getting back the two feet in width that was lost with the last renovation. This would have been the best opportunity to correct that mistake by making it safer and easier to use. Sorry that it will not happen but I am looking forward to seeing the new updates. I am sure that we will still be the BEST TOWN BY A DAM SITE!!
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I understand where you’re coming from. My thought is keeping traffic speed down and walking safe in that district is the best way to support businesses and improve quality of life. So we are placing a bumpout across from Nypro at the corner of High and Union streets (where the Mexican restaurant is now) to make cars turning onto High Street slow down. We’re also moving the intersection of High and Church out a bit so you don’t have to stop once at the sign and again to check traffic. And we’re adding a crosswalk down by Brothers Pizza, to make getting around in the northern section easier. We’re also improving lighting and adding trees through the district, so it’s safer at night and not so hot during the days to walk everywhere. I love the plan and our steering committee had representatives from the business community on it. We had listening sessions and made changes based on feedback. I’m confident that, when we’re done, it’s going to be a project that can put us over the top when it comes to attracting (and retaining) businesses and giving us all the downtown we deserve. It’s going to be a lot of work, but as you said, we are all committed to getting it right. Thanks as always for the input. Please keep us to our word.
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Thanks for your information on all of the plans for downtown. The changes that you have listed sound great, we will have to put up with the detours and delays but I expect the final results to be great.
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Hi Sean, All of 56 Prescott St. voted early! What I really need to know right now is, what’s going on with Trick or Treating here in town. Are the High St. merchants doing a socially distanced event & do I need to prepare for” trick- or-, treaters”?? I read that the “Scare Crow” fund raiser is in full swing, However, it’d be good to know what’s going down for 10/31 on a Saturday night, because other towns/cities that cancel local events end up going to communities that leave things open to individual discretion. I’ve asked around and haven’t gotten any conclusive answers. Should I be thinking about how to continue neighborhood traditions with a COVID-19 slant or, “Forget about it.”??
Either way, as a supporter and neighbor: On 10/31/20 feel free to stop by 56 Prescott St. for a bowl of Guinness Stew and neighborly “Hey” if safe to do so, The pot ‘o stew happens “ir-regardless” of the circumstances!
Thank you for your dedicated service to our town, Ann Gillespie
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Dear Ann,
Thanks for your note. Halloween, like everything this year, is a bit tricky. We were scheduled to talk to the Board of Health about it last week but the power was out at Town Hall so we couldn’t meet. Currently, the Board of Health’s position is if we’re not in the red (see: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/community-level-covid-19-data-reporting) then they’re OK with people trick or treating smart, as in going to homes they know, wearing masks, all the things we’ve been doing. That being said, we had our first positive case in the schools this week, so we’re keeping an eye on things.
I know the annual downtown Halloween Walk is off. I don’t know what the Scare Crow thing is. I’m sure no matter what we do, people will feel they have a right to trick or treat so we’d rather give them some guidelines than leave every person to themselves. Our priority has always been keeping the schools open and safe, since a full remote school system is a hardship for many. My board is meeting with the Board of Health and superintendent of schools on October 21 and we’ll reassess then.
The CDC is suggesting all sorts of things people can do that are still safe (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/holidays.html#halloween). So, depending on your traditions, hopefully you can figure something out that’s good for everyone.
I know that’s a lot of words for not much of an answer, but we’re dealing with a lot of moving parts (trust me, I am not up for Dad of the Year this year). People just have to be smart and safe. If the schools have to close, we all lose, no matter how much candy is involved.
Thanks again for the support. I’m doing my best.
Sean
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