Resident Bemoans Humongous Charmless Buildings

Here we go again!  Between all the impact studies and developers running around town trying to eat up all the open space that is available in SWAMPSCOTT, one gets the feeling that we are on the starting line at the beginning of the OKLAHOMA LAND RUSH.  What is going on?

The Concordia: a truly horrible building, claustrophobic, unliked by everyone that I have spoken to.  What have we done to a wonderful piece of SWAMPSCOTT?  We even managed to do away with the little peek-a-boo spots showing the ocean.  

Tourists and residents do not want to see these humongous buildings. What they want to see are buildings like Captain Jacks, and the other structures that were there. The Concordia affects everything: restaurants, retail, taxes, charm and beauty.  I can hear the parents saying nothing old and quaint here, let's go on to Marblehead and Salem.  

This is what all the boards in town saw as the right thing to do.  It just seemed to get pushed through, again. Where is the transparency that we deserve to have?  I wish we could take a vote right now, and let the citizens of SWAMPSCOTT to say yea or nay on this project. Of course it is too late.

The other projects in town are the Temple Israel site, Greenwood Ave school, Machon and Hadley schools, and the Vaughn Place condo project. All of these projects are being rammed down the throats of all the neighborhoods.  There is not a doubt in my mind that before a developer proposes his plans, that it should be mandatory that he at least have the courtesy to include those families that are going to be impacted by the project, and have a discussion to see what can work for all.  It seems like a reasonable, and an honorable thing to do.

I live in one of the neighborhoods, Greenwood Ave, and can attest to the fact that not once have we had any dialogue with Groom Construction to discuss our concerns or to give some input into this development.  It is not the right thing to do.  I know he went to the school, but seems to have a dislike for the institution.  He wants to demolish the entire property without keeping one piece of history.  SAD.  Everyone of a certain age had some interest with that building.  It is a truly historic building in SWAMPSCOTT. Not to mention that 41 units overlooking our homes means an influx of more than double the amount of people, cars and traffic in our already crampeds neighborhood.  Our houses values  will drop.

How many of you would want the Concordia overlooking your property?  Be honest with yourselves.  TO BE CONTINUED...

Freddy Phillips