[Massplanners] A poo problem

[Jeffrey Robert Levine]

Would also put in a plug for a different "Portland" loo- Portland, ME has installed several public restrooms using ARPA funds. These are not fancy, basically port-a-potties with walls and a concrete floor (can't be tipped over...) But they work and I understand they are a lot cheaper than the Portland Loos. I'm sure Dina in the City Manager's office would be happy to share the details:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/mn3lyy6asypl8pa/Downtown%20Restroom%20Presentation%205.4.2022.pdf?dl=0


Jeff Levine, AICP (he/him)
Lecturer in Housing, Community & Economic Development
Department of Urban Studies & Planning
Room 9-511
jrlevine at mit.edu<mailto:jrlevine at mit.edu>
Personal Zoom Room: https://mit.zoom.us/my/jeff.levine
@JLevineDUSP
(617) 253-3964
[MIT]




From: MassPlanners <massplanners-bounces at masscptc.org> On Behalf Of Ezra Haber Glenn via MassPlanners
Sent: Tuesday, September 27, 2022 8:56 AM
To: rmay at cobma.us; Listserv (massplanners at masscptc.org) <massplanners at masscptc.org>
Subject: Re: [Massplanners] A poo problem

I've seen (and used) the Portland Loo around Boston and Cambridge, and it seems to be a great solution. Not sure about the cost, though.

I've also wondered whether it might be possible to work with local restaurants and other businesses to encourage them (or incentivize/require them, though permitting?) to provide accessible bathrooms, in exchange for a city-run maintenance and insurance program: if they agree to make the bathrooms open, you'd agree to have an on-call janitor/plumber to immediately respond to any problem created.

Just some thoughts - good luck, hope all is well.

Ezra
--
Ezra Haber Glenn, AICP
Department of Urban Studies and Planning
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
77 Massachusetts Ave., Room 7-346
Cambridge, MA 02139
eglenn at mit.edu<mailto:eglenn at mit.edu>
617.721.7131 (c)

 - on the web:
   http://dusp.mit.edu/people/ezra-glenn<http://dusp.mit.edu/peopl/ezra-glenn>
________________________________
From: MassPlanners <massplanners-bounces at masscptc.org<mailto:massplanners-bounces at masscptc.org>> on behalf of Rob May via MassPlanners <massplanners at masscptc.org<mailto:massplanners at masscptc.org>>
Sent: Tuesday, September 27, 2022 8:38:26 AM
To: Listserv (massplanners at masscptc.org<mailto:massplanners at masscptc.org>) <massplanners at masscptc.org<mailto:massplanners at masscptc.org>>
Subject: [Massplanners] A poo problem

A number of usual and convenient locations where the unhoused have been able to use public restrooms have closed or limited their access.

This has resulted in a marked increase in public defecation.

Short of housing the unhoused, what are other communities doing to address this issue?

We are currently looking at permanently installed, single occupant toilets by Portland Loo  (https://portlandloo.com/).

I would like to hear your thoughts on this and other solutions.

Rob

Rob May, CEcD
Director of Planning and Economic Development
City of Brockton
45 School Street
Brockton, MA 02301
508-580-7113
rmay at cobma.us<mailto:rmay at cobma.us>
He/Him/His
[https://docs.google.com/uc?export=download&id=1yqPHbTI8qSOPPIjsAKGgHWGSr383-Zwo&revid=0B0tRVbOFXg93ejBnaTcxaTZXaGZ4QllGdEdCTTRtRTVhbzFjPQ]
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