Renaming Mt. Wayte Plaza to the Landing at Farm Pond

     What's in a name? What mental image do you have when you hear these place names: “Mt. Wayte Plaza”, “Uptown” and “The Landing at Farm Pond”?
    Here is my point – Sam Adams, a California developer, plans to develop the barren Mt. Wayte Plaza into a mix of retail businesses, restaurants and office space.  Its current  name, Mt. Wayte has historical precedence but would not draw outsiders.  “Uptown” gives no clue to the site’s offerings. The Landing at Farm Pond is a fitting name for its proximity to Farm Pond..

Developer's plan to redesign Mt. Wayte Plaza with a new name "Uptown"

Idea for a new shopping area intergrated with connections to Farm Pond by way of walk-over and dock.

The Landing at Farm Pond (aka Mt. Wayte Plaza) - a gateway of shops, businesses and apartments to Farm Pond and link to Downtown Framingham. Highlights of Farm Pond would be walking/biking paths and Ferry service connecting both areas of town. Additional activities at Farm Pond would make this area a destination for people and tourists in Greater Framingham. The Farm Pond waterbuses can be Boston's Swanboats - but on a grander scale.

     Farm Pond is a long over-looked outstanding natural resource in South Framingham.  The proposed shopping center is perfectly situated on the Pond. It is North of the Downtown, South of Framingham State University, East of Cushing Park, and West of Bowditch Field, four of Framingham’s prime assets.  Picture a “Landing at Farm Pond” development of retail shops, offices and apartments with a restaurant overlooking the Pond.   Creating activities such as walking on trails along the Pond or taking a ferry to the downtown would reduce the need for cars. It would also be in synergy with the 2013 Open Space and Recreation Plan whose purpose is to expand Framingham’s open space and recreational resources
     Combined with a new gateway to Farm Pond could invigorate this part of town.  What would you find more enticing – “Let’s meet Uptown” or “Let’s Meet at the “Landing”?

 -- George Lewis

A Museum of Fresh Water History would become a landmark building representing Framingham. Development of Farm Pond in Downtown Framingham should include year-round activities.