Court Battle On: Greenwood Avenue Neighbors vs Town

A trial opens today in Boston Land Court where plaintiffs are alleging "spot" zoning of the Greenwood Middle School parcel.

  Today in Boston Land Court a case starts that challenges a Swampscott bylaw amendment rezoning the Greenwood Middle School and allowing substantially higher density, the court record states. Arthur MacLeod and at least 12 other plaintiffs maintain the rezoning is "spot" zoning and impermissable. A number of Greenwood Avenue residents have said at local meetings that the development's traffic and density — 41 residential units — would destroy the neighborhood's character. The town of Swampscott denies that the rezoning is impermissable. Groom Construction is proposing to buy the old Middle School building from the town and tear it down. It would replace it with a 41-unit condominum building. Developers have said that the building is …

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Poll: Selectmen Discuss Greenwood Property in Closed Session

Take our poll on whether you agree with the Historical Commission's decision to invoke a delay to demolition of the former school on Greenwood Avenue.

  One night after the Historical Commission voted to delay the Greenwood Avenue condos for nine months, the Selectmen met in executive session to discuss legal action that has already been filed against the project. The Selectmen made no comment on their private discussion last Wednesday about the town's legal strategies on a lawsuit filed against the project. Groom Construction is proposing to buy the old Middle School building from the town and tear it down. It would replace it with a 41-unit condominum building. Some neighbors oppose the proposal and have hired attorneys. One of the attorneys, Carl Goodman, has filed a suit, challenging the zoning bylaw that the town enacted to make the project possible.   The Historical Commission …

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Fred Bollen

2:50 pm on Wednesday, August 15, 2012

I agree with EM's comments. I believe that the Historical Commission's actions were unbiased and within their established duties. Unpopular decisions are never easy to make.   more ›

Letter to the Editor

Neighbor Rallies For Different Greenwood Development

Resident Freddy Phillips would rather see small homes and a park on the Greenwood Avenue school site.

  Letter to the Editor from Freddy Phillips Are you satisfied with the building that replaced Captain Jack's?  Well I can honestly say that it is overwhelmingly obtrusive.   For those of you who feel the same way, it is too late.  We are stuck with it.   Swampscott got what it wanted, it sacrificed a potential beautiful space, that had a feeling of making Swampscott an attractive town with the old buildings and replacing it with revenue to help the tax base. You will never see this money help your tax situation or bring back services that we once had.   For a town to even consider a plan to put artificial turf in a play area, has me flabbergasted, estimated at TWO TO THREE MILLION DOLLARS to build.  Which brings me to the main reason why I…

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SundayNightCards

7:15 am on Friday, July 27, 2012

Paul couldn't find the selectmen's meeting room with a map!   more ›

Greenwood Resident Says Condos Would Impact Neighborhood in Big Way

Resident Fiona Barrett considers the proposal's impacts in this letter to the editor.

  This is a letter to the editor from Fiona Barrett Thanks to the Planning Board for providing the open forum for discussion regarding the site plan review for 71 Greenwood Avenue. This is the first meeting we have received official notification as abutters to attend and we appreciate the opportunity to share as residents directly abutting the site. 41-Unit Building: Overall concern about the size of the proposed 41-unit construction and its impact on the immediate neighborhood. This plan is designed to add 41 new homes with 87 parking spaces into a small neighborhood that already experiences traffic & parking challenges. When school was in session here the impact was significant but we also knew it was not permanent due to peak in/out of …

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Ryan Adams

4:54 am on Sunday, July 15, 2012

Making some of those 1 ways streets into 2 ways streets (several of which are only ever recently 1-way) would certainly help, now that there's never going to be a school there again. I'd also think the town should consider putting up some "no thru-way traffic" signs on key streets in the area if people are trying to sneak up in the area during morning commutes to bypass some of Humphrey traffic.   more ›

Middle School Condo Project Delayed, Diverted

Opposing neighbors secured a month's postponement of public hearing, maybe a more sympathetic venue.

  The neighbors who oppose a plan to redevelop the former Swampscott Middle School into 41 condominiums bought themselves at least a month's delay Monday night. And their attorney, Kenneth Shutzer, believes they may have gotten a lot more. The Planning Board met to consider a proposal by Groom Construction Co. to replace the former school on Greenwood Avenue with condominiums. The school closed five years ago. Along with other vacant, town-owned properties, the town offered the school for sale. Last fall, the Board of Selectmen accepted Groom's $625,000 proposal to raze the school and build the condominiums on one of the town's tallest hills overlooking the ocean. Attorney William DiMento, who represents Groom, showed up with his client, …

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Swampscott Stories

A Look at the Former Middle School

The second photo gallery in a series on empty buildings in town. Patch photographer Bob Roche turns his lens on the former Middle School.

Students once clomped up and down stairs and slapped over the floors as they hustled from lockers to classes in this old building.  Voices boomed and whispered. Teachers taught. Basketballs thumped on the floor and arched toward hoops. Bells rang. Friendships and relationships were forged.  Now the former Middle School is slated for development and, likely, demolition. Here's a look at the old girl on the hill with the great view.

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