SHAYNA: JUST ABOUT ONE YEAR AGO, FRAMINGHAM DECIDED TO CHANGE THE COURSE OF ITS FUTURE.
ANTHONY: A SLIM MAJORITY OF RESIDENTS DECIDED TO REBOOT THEIR SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT.
AFTER 317 YEARS AS A TOWN, IT IS NOT THAT FRAMINGHAM HAD GROWN TOO BIG FOR ITS OWN BRITCHES, IT IS JUST THAT IT HAD BECOME TOO BIG.
IN 2017, FRAMINGHAM VOTED TO BECOME A CITY, GIVING IT ADVANTAGES IT NEVER ENJOYED AS NEW ENGLAND’S LARGEST TOWN.
>> WE WERE A OVER 200 MEMBER TOWN MEETING BODY, AND I THINK IT IS REALLY DIFFICULT TO MAKE DECISIONS WITH 200 PEOPLE, AND I THINK ALSO, IT PUTS US IN A PLACE FOR MORE RESOURCES AT THE
STATE AND FEDERAL LEVEL BECAUSE WE NOW HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE.
HAVING A REPRESENTATIVE TO ADVOCATE FOR THE COMMUNITY.
>> IT IS LIKE YOU REALLY DO.
>> REALLY IS.
ANTHONY: E VON SPICER IS FRAMINGHAM’S FIRST MAYOR.
WHAT EXPERIENCE SHE MAY LACK RUNNING A DIVERSE CITY, COLLEAGUES SAY, SPICER WILL MAKE UP IN PASSION, GRIT, AND ENTHUSIASM.
>> WHAT IS IT LIKE TO BE THE FIRST MAYOR OF THE CITY?
>> IT’S WONDERFUL.
IT IS MORE THAN WHAT I ANTICIPATED IN A WAY THAT EVERYTHING IS A NEW THING FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
IT IS VERY UNCOMMON TO BE A TRANSITIONING CITY.
SO I AM BUILDING THE SHIP AS I DRIVE IT, AND THAT IS KIND OF EXCITING.
THIS IS MY FAVORITE.
I LOVE THIS ARCADE.
ANTHONY: SPICER IS DETERMINED TO DELIVER ON THE PROMISE SO MANY OTHER FRAMINGHAM POLITICIANS HAVE MADE, REINVIGORATING THE CITY’S DOWNTOWN.
STALLED AROUND WITH HER AND YOU CAN SEE THE SEEDS ARE PLANTED.
SITES ARE WILL WALK YOU THROUGH A NEW COFFEE ROASTER HE AND TAKE YOU -- ROASTERY, AND TAKE YOU FOR SWEET PASTRIES.
YOU HAVE BEEN VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT BRINGING NEW BUSINESSES AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES TO FRAMINGHAM.
TELL ME ABOUT THAT.
>> WE CAN HAVE THESE ANCHOR BUSINESSES SUCH AS AN INCUBATOR OR A NEW STARTUP COMPANY, AND HAVE THEM ANCHORED IN THE DOWNTOWN.
IMAGINE BEING ABLE TO HAVE PEOPLE LIVE IN THE DOWNTOWN, WORKED IN THE DOWNTOWN, AND ENJOY ALL OF THE THINGS WE HAVE TO OFFER.
WHY NOT WORK AND LIVE IN THE COMMUNITY?
ANTHONY: CASE IN POINT, HUNDREDS OF UPSCALE APARTMENTS WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE TO SHOPS AND THE COMMUTER TRAIN ARE IN THE FRAMINGHAM HIGH PLANE.
CONDOS AND BUSINESSES OCCUPY THE DENISON FACTORY.
THOUGH, SAYS SPICER, AS THE DOWNTOWN GENTRIFIED, THE CHALLENGE WILL BE TO ENSURE FRAMINGHAM REMAINS A GATEWAY OF OPPORTUNITY FOR ITS SIZABLE IMMIGRANT POPULATION.
>> ONE OF THE TOP CONCERNS HIS IMMIGRATION AND MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE FEEL SAFE IN THIS COMMUNITY.
AND KNOWING PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN DEPORTED OR DETAINED, THAT HAS BEEN A DIFFICULT PLACE SOMETIMES IN FRAMINGHAM.
ANTHONY: RESTAURANTS CAN BE INCREDIBLE CATALYSTS FOR DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION, AND SINCE IT OPENED IN 2013, THIS RESTAURANT HAS DONE ITS PART, LURING DESTINATION DINERS TO
FRAMINGHAM FROM ALL OVER.
PATRONS FLOCK HERE FOR THE AUTHENTIC VIETNAMESE CUISINE.
>> THE UNIQUE THING ABOUT VIETNAMESE FOOD IS THAT IT IS VERY FRESH, VERY FLAVORFUL.
WE LIKE TO EAT, SO THERE IS A LOT OF SPICINESS INVOLVED.
WE TRY TO ACCOMMODATE A LOT OF DIFFERENT SPICES INTO OUR COOKING.
ANTHONY: MANY CALL VIETNAMESE NOODLE SOUP PHO, BUT HE SAYS IT REALLY IS PRONOUNCED "FA." THEY MAKE STEAMY GOALS OF DELECTABLE GOODNESS IN MANY VARIETIES, THE BROTH SIMMERING
DOWN FOR HOURS, INFUSING THEM WITH RICH FLAVORS THAT THEME YOUR HEAD OPEN -- STEAM YOUR HEAD OPEN.
>> BASAL, FRESH LIMES, AND JALAPENOS.
YOU ADD THOSE ADDITIONS TO THE SOUP AND PUT A LITTLE BIT OF SIROTA ON IT -- SRIRACHA ON IT.
I ADD A LITTLE BIT OF HOT SAUCE ON IT.
ANTHONY: PHO MACAU OFFERS TROPICAL DRINKS AND PAGES OF ENTREES, SOME WITH THAI AND CHINESE INFLUENCES.
THE PRESENTATION OF THE SIZZLING MONGOLIAN BEEF IS A SHOWSTOPPER.
>> YOU BRING IT OUT, IT IS HOT, SIZZLING, SMELLS GREAT, AND GOES GREAT WITH WHITE RICE.
ANTHONY: THANKS TO A GRANT PROGRAM, IT IS ABOUT TO REDO THEIR STOREFRONT, ADDING RETRACTABLE WINDOWS FOR OPEN-AIR DINING.
ON FRIDAYS, THEY HAVE JAZZ, AND THE JOINT HOMES.
>> I SEE A LOT OF OWNERS IMPROVING WITH THE DOWNTOWN AS WELL AS HE AND WE GET A LOT OF LOCAL SUPPORT FROM PEOPLE IN DOWNTOWN.
SO I MEAN, I JUST LOVE BEING HERE.
I LOVE BEING A PART OF THE WHOLE RENOVATION OF DOWNTOWN.
SHAYNA: DELICIOUS.
AND A LOT OF PEOPLE OVER THE YEARS HAVE TALKED ABOUT TRYING TO MAKE FRAMINGHAM A MORE LIVELY DESTINATION, BUT IT HAS BEEN CHALLENGING.
ANTHONY: SPECIFICALLY, THE DOWNTOWN AREA.
MAYOR SPICER WAS LOOKING AT PLACES LIKE HUDSON WHICH ARE BOTH RESTAURANT ROSE TO REVITALIZE THE DOWNTOWN.
SHE HAS AN INTERESTING IDEA OF HAVING FOCUS GROUPS OF RESIDENTS UNDER 40 AND TALKING ABOUT WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA.
SHE HAS GOT SOME GOOD IDEAS COOKING.
SHAYNA: WHAT IS FRAMINGHAM’S NEWEST INDUSTRY?
>> MULTIPLE SCLER