If we want to destroy the town as we see it, we go with Option C. If we protect the town and still do development, we do Option E. Bijoy Misra (an independent observer)
On Tue, Nov 28, 2023 at 9:02 PM Ruth Ann Hendrickson <raand...@earthlink.net> wrote: > I support new and more affordable housing in Lincoln, and I’d like to see > most of it in the area of the train station and the Lincoln Mall. I will > therefore be supporting option C at the Special Town Meeting on December 2. > > 1) *Options C is the best hope for retaining the retail businesses at the > Mall*. I remember when the roof caved in, and Donelan’s was out of > business for over a year. We missed them terribly. If we even needed a pint > of cream, we had to go out of town. Retail is struggling all over the > country, but I notice that West Concord, (population 7,003 per Census > data: ACS 2021) which developed a large apartment complex near the Nashoba > Brook a few years ago, has managed to retain real retail, not just banks > and restaurants. I am hoping that with enough new housing in the mall area, > we also could have a thriving retail center. > > 2) *History shows that adding new housing enriches the Town.* Change is > always worrisome. When Farrah pond village near where I live was proposed, > the neighbors were violently against it because of traffic. The traffic has > not materialized, and Farrar Pond Village has turned out to be a wonderful > place for Lincoln people to retire. Recently, because of the cost of > housing, it has also attracted families with children to the extent that > they have built a playground. When the town developed Lincoln Woods, people > were aghast; much denser than Farrar Pond Village and right there in the > middle of town. And yet I know someone who works at Donelan’s who is able > to live there, and a friend of mine, who has MS, is also able to live there > to be near her mother. This complex has definitely given living options to > Lincoln people who needed it. The proposed new housing would again add > housing for our children and those who work here. > > 3) *Our Agricultural Heritage is safe.* Remember, 40% of the Lincoln is > permanently in conservation. 40%! Those fields will continue to be farmed > by local farmers. Codman farm belongs to the town and will also remain in > perpetuity. The trails we love to walk will always be there. Adding some > higher density housing near the train station will not affect that. > > 4) *Do not be fooled by Option E. *Some think that, if we chose Option E, > we can slow down and develop housing at our own pace under the town meeting > process. Most of the towns around us, however, will have designated large > areas as multifamily “by right”. What developer in his right mind would > risk thousands of dollars to take a proposal to town meeting, only to see > it voted down, when he could easily go to the next town, and develop > something by right? The RLF will be unable to replenish their endowment > and revitalize the mall in this new housing development environment. Please > vote to allow the RLF to develop the mall/housing complex by right. The RLF > is a non-profit whose mission is to assist the town of Lincoln in shaping > its land-use destiny. History has show that they can be trusted to work to > the Town’s benefit. > > -- > Ruth Ann Hendrickson > (She, her) > > -- > The LincolnTalk mailing list. > To post, send mail to 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. > >
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