I too thought the town was interested in developing or at least maintaining its commercial center. Sent from my iPhone Melinda Bruno-Smith
On Nov 12, 2023, at 10:44 AM, Margaret Olson <s...@margaretolson.com> wrote: We have no guarantees that the RLF will maintain Donelan's either. If Donelan's is not sufficiently profitable they will leave, and the RLF may or may not be willing and able to set their rent at a level that keeps them profitable. A note on the 2014 study: much of the research on the impact of the train was conducted at noon on a public holiday. On Sun, Nov 12, 2023 at 10:07 AM Karla Gravis <karlagra...@gmail.com<mailto:karlagra...@gmail.com>> wrote: I want to emphasize that the Mall is currently a profitable concern.The RLF disclosed a rental profit of $164,571 in 2022. Details here<https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/46132391/202341749349301024/full>. However, if we rezone it by right, Civico would get to decide what mix of commercial and residential to build. As a private enterprise, they will choose to build whatever leads to the highest profits, which we know is residential. Ms. Barnes mentioned that commercial space will be reduced during the forum on Wednesday. We have no guarantees that Civico would maintain Donelan's or any of the existing commercial space. This outcome would be at odds with our goal of supporting our commercial center and reducing the town's carbon footprint. This is one of the reasons why it is so important that the Mall redevelopment goes through Town Meeting. It is also important to puncture the myth that building units at Lincoln Station would do much to boost the commercial prospects of the area: * The Planning Board released a Lincoln Station Planning Study in 2014. The study concluded that each 100 units added would only support 2,500 sq ft of space. For reference, Donelan's footprint is 20,387 sq ft. Study here<https://www.lincolntown.org/DocumentCenter/View/65765/Lincoln-Station-Planning-Study-3-27-2014bwfinal> * 2,500 sq ft of commercial space per 100 units is probably a very optimistic number. The Study assumed that the leakage (% of convenience buys by residents that happen outside of Lincoln Station) would come down from 80% to 50%. If we use the actual 80% leakage, those 100 units would only support 1,000 sq ft of space. * In all likelihood the leakage is actually higher than 80% today given the increased penetration of online sales in the nine years elapsed. From: DJCP <djcp0...@gmail.com<mailto:djcp0...@gmail.com>> Date: Sun, Nov 12, 2023 at 08:14 Subject: Re: [LincolnTalk] Housing Choice Act and Exclusionary Zoning Report-the HAC will make us even more exclusive. To: Listserv Listserv <lincoln@lincolntalk.org<mailto:lincoln@lincolntalk.org>> The best way to make sure commercial stays commercial is to make the businesses viable and the best way to do that is to make sure there are people shopping there. Sorry but people from other towns are not flocking to Lincoln to buy $10 pints of strawberries from Donelans. And I've only been here 5 years and have noticed the string of restaurants that have tried to fill the ONE space. Whether we make any changes there's no guarantee these businesses will stick around. That's capitalism folks. But we can help by AT LEAST zoning for more housing in the area. Diana Giles Rd On Sun, Nov 12, 2023, 8:08 AM Peter Buchthal <pbucht...@gmail.com<mailto:pbucht...@gmail.com>> wrote: Along similar lines, how can the town ensure commercial space stays commercial as the new owners could easily decide to raise very high or not renew any commercial lease in order to build more luxury residential units by right as long as the project has unused housing units within the zoning allotment. Peter Buchthal Weston Rd On Sat, Nov 11, 2023 at 12:27 PM David Cuetos <davidcue...@gmail.com<mailto:davidcue...@gmail.com>> wrote: How can the RLF guarantee that any particular commercial space will remain once they sell the land to Civico? Are they planning to include a requirement for a supermarket in the deed? Anything else would just be a "recommendation". On Fri, Nov 10, 2023 at 6:09 PM Margo Fisher-Martin <margo.fisher.mar...@gmail.com<mailto:margo.fisher.mar...@gmail.com>> wrote: Hi All, We know that a zoning change does not “dictate” that anything be built or changed, but we also know that major changes WILL happen in Lincoln, should this pass. Do any of you remember many years ago when zoning changes were made that impacted any changes an owner could make (as much as a bay window) without ZBA approval on pre-existing non-conforming lots? Some people who are pushing for the re-zoning here are the same people that tried to instill the fear of “mansionisation” should we allow any changes to homes on less than 2 acre lots. At town meeting, they showed pictures of dense mid-rise housing from other towns to scare people into taking away the rights of the pre-existing (grandfathered) non-conforming lot owners. Now some of these same people are advocating for providing similar dense mid-rise housing that they were adamantly opposed to. What happened to the “stewards of the land?” Sincerely, Margo Martin On Fri, Nov 10, 2023 at 5:27 PM Margaret Olson <s...@margaretolson.com<mailto:s...@margaretolson.com>> wrote: Michelle Barnes from the RLF can confirm, but I believe Donelan's will remain after the mall redevelopment. A reminder: zoning affects what the property owner has a right to do with their property. It does not dictate that anything be built or changed. On Fri, Nov 10, 2023 at 4:38 PM Terri via Lincoln <lincoln@lincolntalk.org<mailto:lincoln@lincolntalk.org>> wrote: Hi all, If I am reading the rezoning plans correctly.... the Reducition in retail includes eliminating Donelans and the Bank. Is this correct? Theresa K On Friday, November 10, 2023 at 11:25:26 AM EST, Sara Mattes <samat...@gmail.com<mailto:samat...@gmail.com>> wrote: Is the alternative for the nation area to fill it with dense housing, while we are told there will be reduction in retail? And, that housing will only reflect the wealth gap-only 10% affordable, and the rest, high-end? What happened to the concept of a “vibrant commercial center?” What happened to a “walkable village?” What will everyone walk to as retail is reduced? Each other's units? Let us be more creative in what we can develop. As Ken has suggested, we have done it in the past. We seem to have lost our mojo. Let’s get it back. The HCA is NOT the answer. ------ Sara Mattes On Nov 10, 2023, at 10:55 AM, Ken Hurd <kenh...@keha.com<mailto:kenh...@keha.com>> wrote: Hello LincolnTalkers, During the discussion on the Zoom forum hosted by the HCAWG on Wednesday evening, I mentioned the recently released report on the history of exclusionary zoning in the Boston area. And also, for those of you who couldn’t stay to see it following the Wednesday morning forum at Town Hall, below is the link to hear the presentation sponsored by The Boston Foundation. Unless we know our history, it is known that history has a tendency to repeat itself. With respect to objections raised to the options offered by the Housing Choice Working Group, I do hope that current residents can follow the example of earlier Lincoln leaders from the 1970’s who worked with, rather than against, the 40B mandate from the state to provide more affordable housing. That, and their efforts to preserve land in a way that could be shared with others, made Lincoln a model community that attracted national attention. With the Housing Choice Act, there is no less an opportunity to combine our responsibility to provide more housing in the greater Boston region with helping to revive the ailing Lincoln Station area. After all, given our current manner of approving development around Lincoln Station and the fact that there has been no interest by developers in doing so for the past eighteen years, even with more favorable economic conditions, why should we expect anything different other than more empty spaces available for lease going forward? I urge us to affirm the work of the Working Group to fulfill the spirit of the Housing Choice Act by supporting Option C, including the rezoning of the mall, to address this conundrum. Here is the link to the report: <https://www.tbf.org/news-and-insights/videos/2023/november/exclusionary-by-design-20231108> Exclusionary by Design: An Investigation of Zoning’s Use as a Tool of Race, Class, and Family Exclusion in Boston’s Suburbs, 1920 to Today<https://www.tbf.org/news-and-insights/videos/2023/november/exclusionary-by-design-20231108> tbf.org<https://www.tbf.org/news-and-insights/videos/2023/november/exclusionary-by-design-20231108> <tbfico.png><https://www.tbf.org/news-and-insights/videos/2023/november/exclusionary-by-design-20231108> Respectfully, Ken Hurd -- The LincolnTalk mailing list. To post, send mail to Lincoln@lincolntalk.org<mailto:Lincoln@lincolntalk.org>. Browse the archives at https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/. Change your subscription settings at https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. -- The LincolnTalk mailing list. To post, send mail to Lincoln@lincolntalk.org.<mailto:Lincoln@lincolntalk.org.> Browse the archives at https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/. Change your subscription settings at https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. -- The LincolnTalk mailing list. To post, send mail to Lincoln@lincolntalk.org<mailto:Lincoln@lincolntalk.org>. Browse the archives at https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/. Change your subscription settings at https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. -- The LincolnTalk mailing list. To post, send mail to Lincoln@lincolntalk.org<mailto:Lincoln@lincolntalk.org>. Browse the archives at https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/. Change your subscription settings at https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. -- The LincolnTalk mailing list. To post, send mail to Lincoln@lincolntalk.org<mailto:Lincoln@lincolntalk.org>. Browse the archives at https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/. Change your subscription settings at https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. -- The LincolnTalk mailing list. To post, send mail to Lincoln@lincolntalk.org<mailto:Lincoln@lincolntalk.org>. Browse the archives at https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/. Change your subscription settings at https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. -- The LincolnTalk mailing list. To post, send mail to Lincoln@lincolntalk.org<mailto:Lincoln@lincolntalk.org>. Browse the archives at https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/. Change your subscription settings at https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. -- The LincolnTalk mailing list. To post, send mail to Lincoln@lincolntalk.org<mailto:Lincoln@lincolntalk.org>. Browse the archives at https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/. Change your subscription settings at https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. -- The LincolnTalk mailing list. 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