Share
04/22/08
F. Diehl or no Diehl
by Rbrowner at Citysearch
F. Diehl and Son Inc. were in business even before the Town of Wellesley, Massachusetts was established (1881). President Sarah Murphy, and co-owner Beth Murphy were the most recent owners of the business and surrounding Linden Street properties.
In 2001 the Town of Wellesley Planning Board began the "Linden Street Planning Study". Town Planner, Lance D. Hansen was the lead coordinator for this project. The Murphy sisters initially objected to the proposed changes for the Linden Square shopping area stating "the zoning change will effectively increase the density of the area and decrease the available parking on Linden Street." They also stated "the Planning Department's whole premise of decreasing automobile traffic on Linden Street while increasing pedestrian activity is misguided". (Wellesley Townsman Sept. 2002)
Ultimately the Murphy sisters must have realized the value of redevelopment of the traditional strip mall along Linden Street and did follow the recommendations of the Linden Street Planning Study set forth by Peter F. Jackson - Landscape Architect for the consulting firm; Dufresne-Henry.
In 2008 I visited the Linden Street shopping area and experienced a very pedestrian-friendly shopping experience, with a mix of the older existing commercial buildings and brand new higher density buildings located directly along Linden Street, with ample available parking behind. The shopping area is far more organized for both vehicular traffic and pedestrian circulation, and an attractive shopping destination, which now compliments the historic Wellesley Square downtown center.
- Pros: Linden Street Planning Study finally implemented
- Cons: multiple meetings and hand-holding the Murphy sisters as they kicked and screamed their way into redeveloping Linden Street.
