Above: Sometimes, on a beautiful day, I’m wowed by the views I stumble on in town. (Photo by Beth Melo)
It’s time for a new open thread. What’s on your mind this week, Southborough?
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I am totally stoked for the opening of Pizzaville. Anyone have a more definitive idea of when they open?
Yes! I am also stoked–the pizza options in Sboro are hot garbage. I hope they are good because there are no other palatable options in delivery range.
It’s opening up in August (not sure of the exact date though). I met the owner briefly, and he’s taking one last long vacation before opening up. I’m hoping it’s a good place!
Does anyone find it interesting in a town that seems to be always looking for new ways to generate revenue that residents 65+ that are not in any sort of financial hardship do not have to pay for the the use of the transfer station? Do they not generate any trash or recycling? I would love to understand the history of this legislation and how the town got to this stance. I don’t know the population of residents over 65 in this town, but I assume it is rather small as a percentage and that this does not cost the town all that much, however I am of the view hat every little bit helps and it is time to review this benefit.
Not saying what is right or wrong, but just to give context…
It has been discussed in past years at board of selectmen meetings. The concept is that how we pay is only partly through the fees, so seniors are paying something through the tax support for the system. Earlier this year when talking about possibly moving to a fee only based system, the idea was that seniors would pay something.
As for why they should get a discount – The last discussion I remember clarifying that was years ago. (Only one member of the board is still sitting from that time.)
The board talked about seniors as residents that had paid into the tax system for many years and deserved a little more burden in their later years, especially since they wouldn’t have kids in school. The ability to give them the discount was part of the reasoning for not going to a fully tax funded system.
It was a pretty big assumption then that seniors had been paying taxes to the town for many years..Did someone take a poll to see how long each senior has been here and paying taxes? ..just my 2 cents..
Somebody does not understand why we fund public education….
Maybe we should move to a pay as you go model for school :)
Sounds like a GREAT idea to me!
While we’re at it, let’s charge a FEE for those hundreds of cars that make the trek to the schools 2X daily to drop off/pick up the little critters – instead of using the buses that are already PAID FOR via taxes.
Excess traffic, increased consumption of fuels, air pollution, wear & tear on the streets, etc.
a reader posted about the condition of Fitzgerald’s general store 2 weeks ago, I didn’t respond to it because it was off topic for that post, but now I will. I agree with his/her post, it is so sad to see the building and grounds in this condition. I grew up in that neighborhood and remember getting our mail, food and gas there, When the Fitzgerald sisters ran it years ago it was a beautiful building and the grounds were kept clean, How times have changed , I would like to see it brought back to the way it looked when I was a child, but I don’t know how it can happen without the town and neighbors getting together to make the owner make it look nice again. I know the owner was trying to make a new parking lot but I heard that project is sidelined , don’t know what to say other than right now the place needs help.
Fitzgeralds is a sad display of the owners lack of appreciation to it’s customers. It has become a place you only hit occasionally out of desperation. If it appeared cleaner,and products were actually price marked, their clients would return more often. They definitely show NO sign of keeping the place up. The rumors were that they couldn’t charge for parking unless they paved the lot. If this is truly the situation,they have no foresight to see the investment would easily be paid back +profits thereafter. Poor display of community pride for sure. How could neighbors help?
It really is sad how awful it looks. I wonder if anyone from town actually shops there. While we are at it can we take a look at the “gas station” on the corner of Woodland and Cordaville?
The renovations seemed to go on forever but it is scheduled to open in August according to the Metrowest News:
SOUTHBOROUGH — A pizza shop is returning to the old Mama Rosa’s spot on Southville Road.
Recently, crews installed a sign for the new business, Pizzaville. Last week, selectmen approved a common victualler license for the shop to open at 90 Southville Road.
Owner Agamemnon Zaharioudakis told selectmen he moved to town two years ago.
“I like the town, that is why I bought the property,” he said. “I like the community; that is why I want to stay here.”
The space has been vacant since Mama Rosa’s Pizza closed in 2014. The space has been completely renovated, Zaharioudakis said.
Selectman Dan Kolenda thanked Zaharioudakis for doing business in town.
“A lot of people are very anxious and were happy to see the sign go up,” he said.
The renovations look great, added Selectman Brian Shea. “It is a great improvement.”
Zaharioudakis hopes to open the shop in August. Hours will be 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday.
Main Street in town is a mess. No curbing, lots of potholes, weeds, etc. A beautiful town like Southborough deserves better. What is the plan to re-pave Main Street and clean it up??
The most recent news on that is here: https://mysouthborough.com/2018/06/20/main-street-area-updates-reconstruction-of-downtown-business-village-night-work-state-project-delay-beautifying-a-corner-and-more/
Coverage of all stories related to Main Street construction, etc can be found here: https://mysouthborough.com/tag/main-street/
Time To Write the Check !
Here is a little exercise you can perform while writing your check to the Town of Southborough to pay your real estate taxes. Take out your calculator and multiply your taxes due by 0.85. That is a good approximation of what your tax bill would be if the Board of Selectmen adopted a real estate tax policy consistent with the method used to tax 78% of the commercial and industrial propter in the State of Massachusetts. It would certainly help correct the existing condition where residential property in Southborough is taxed at a rate greater than that paid on 80% of the residential property in the state while our commercial and industrial property owners pay a tax rate the is lower than that paid on 75% of the commercial and industrial property in the state.
It won’t happen. Bartolini and Dipietri own our government and majority of the commercial property in town. That is the only reason for the likes of Kolenda to have a fit whenever this is brought up. Kolenda rips into Sam Stivers and can’t stand him because he would do what’s right.
Supposedly the rates are structured this way in order to attract businesses to this town.
How’s that working out?
I’d like to know why our tax bills keep going up when we’ve added so many housing units (condos on route 9 by 495), assuming they’re paying some amount of $ in property taxes.
Oh wait – more revenue, let’s spend more…
Anyone know what is the status of the red house on Main Street that has been vacant for several years? A construction trailer and porta potty are on the grounds plus a huge load of dirt!!
Thinking the same just the other day. The window glass is gone. My bet it will be a tear down, or maybe the fire department will use it for practice. Too bad, it once was a nice house.
Went by there today and it’s being torn down. Not much left when I drove by but the chimney.
Sadly, it is now gone.
Took about 2 hours — chimney and all.
With the construction closing 85 South, was there any consideration of lengthening the light cycle across White Bagley across rt9?
I’ve heard from numerous people they have been in traffic 15+ mins on what’s normally a 30 second trip.
Several months ago there was some discussion about changing the start time for ARHS. Now that it’s almost the start for another school year, where is the update from the school ‘leadership’?