Town Common hurts business, splits family
Published on June 3rd, 1998
STONEHAM, MA - The dictionary defines progress as steady improvement, as of a society or culture. With the various projects currently underway in Stoneham, all aimed at enhancing the quality of life for its residents, it's pretty safe to say that Stoneham is a good example of a town that is progressing.
In the not-too-distant future, it is expected that Stoneham's downtown will be the recipient of the hustle and bustle that a town center deserves, as the development of the long awaited town common and parking area will spurn more interest in the square by becoming more accessible and welcoming.
Who wouldn't be happy with such progress?
Well, everything has a cost as they say and, in this case, while voters have voiced that the benefits of a town common area and additional parking outweighs the cost, there are others who have done more than the average citizen in bringing this project to fruition.
The success of the project depends largely upon the acquisition of additional land necessary for both the parking and common phases of the plan. The cost of this is perhaps greatest to those whose properties and businesses are located in the heart of those areas which, as voted by the people, have been approved for town acquisition through the process of eminent domain.
One of the people whose business has been affected is Bob Flood who, with his brother Paul, has operated Flood's Service Center at 16 Franklin Street for the past 15 years. With the proposed town parking lot designated to be constructed as an extension to the existing lot on Central Street, the town needs, and thus has acquired, the property on which Flood's is located.
In a recent conversation with The Stoneham Independent, Bob Flood stated that he was happy with the results of the first Town Meeting held in October of 1996, when the article to create the common and parking area was defeated. He described the results of that first vote by saying, "We won."
A subsequent vote on the same article, held the following January and deemed necessary since seating capacity at the original meeting could not accommodate the large turnout of voters, yielded a controversial passing of the article.
With the issue of relocating their auto repair business looming, the Flood brothers disagreed about the course to be taken and the business partnership dissolved. Flood stated that while his brother "didn't want to do anything right away," he preferred not to wait "until last minute" and set out on his own to find a new location to set up shop.
Working with the town's consultant, Peter Sleeper, who was charged with assisting those requiring relocation, Flood determined that he wanted to "stay as close to the original building" as possible. He was fortunate in that respect since his search turned up a location right across the street and, in October of last year, Bob Flood's Service Center at 41R Franklin Street, opened at the corner of Franklin and Spencer Streets.
As the first of those affected by the eminent domain to actually move and receive a relocation check from the town, Flood stated that he now is "pleased with what the town has done" regarding the eminent domain proceedings and the relocation assistance.
He did not always feel that way, however, and initially did not take the town's project debate seriously since town officials have brought up the possibility of making such enhancements to the downtown area for quite some time.
"For years, they've wanted to do it but never did," Flood said.
When the proposal finally did win Town Meeting approval, Flood focused on his future rather than allow any feelings of bitterness to absorb him.
"What are you going to do? You can't fight it," he stated.
Despite being across the street, though somewhat less visible than his previous site, Flood stated that the relocation has affected his customer base "quite a bit."
"People are creatures of habit," stated Flood and estimated that his business has been "cut in half at least." He suggested that most people are familiar with the original site and don't realize that half the business has moved. His hope is that when the original building is no longer there, people will take their business to his new site.
The Flood family has a history on Franklin Street. In addition to the 15 years that Floods Service Center has been servicing the town, Flood's father owned and operated a gas station further up Franklin Street, which is now known as Mac's Landscaping. In all, the Floods have been in business on Franklin Street for 43 years. Despite the imminent taking of the site at number 16, the Flood family will still have presence on the roadway for the years to come.
Though he admits that if there was no relocation issue, he and his brother "would still be in business together," Flood reflected optimistically that "maybe this has been for the best...time will tell...I just want to make a living."
And so he is, down there at 41R Franklin Street.
Subscribe and get Home Delivery of The Independent
Save 36% off the newstand price — that's like 18 FREE issues!