Do Look Back

Did I really write in Sunday's blog that Hillsborough's "town center" was still 40 years in our future? Surely that must have been a typo?

Umm, no! Master planners (those people that work on the master plan) have reminded Hillsborough on more than one occasion that a completely mature town center, with all of the elements in place - retail, housing, parking, parks, etc. - will take a considerable amount of time to construct and mature. Zoning is only the first step. After that, the developers control the timetable.

And that's not a bad thing. A successful "main street" needs to evolve - organically - over time. Otherwise it will be as unreal as Disney World. The town center must serve the needs of the residents. The first developers will be taking risks, and should necessarily proceed cautiously. Subsequent development will learn from the successes and failures of the pioneers.

And can anyone really foresee what the town will look like in 40 years? Forty years ago, did anyone envision the Hillsborough of today? Well, in 1966 the Somerville Area Chamber of Commerce published a brief book titled, "Presenting - Branchburg, Bridgewater, Hillsborough, Somerville".

In 1966 the emphasis seems to be squarely on industrial development, no mention of open space preservation or the environment. On page 18, we read how the proposed I95 Maine to Florida Highway will bisect Hillsborough: "The alignment of this freeway holds the key to speedier industrial development here".

Forty years later we are still waiting for the highway, or its equivalent, and the industrial development. Is that good or bad?

Only time will tell - meet me in 2047 at the coffee shop on Main Street and we'll chat!