Common committee considers Several options for downtown area
Published on July 22nd, 1998
STONEHAM, MA - Think big.
That was the message of last Wednesday night's discussion at the Town Common/Parking Committee meeting where ideas were tossed around about how extensive the town common actually will be once it is completed.
Five preliminary ideas for the town common layout were presented to the committee by an engineer from Levy, Eldredge & Wagner Associates.
Sketches of these ideas (appearing on page 5) vary in shape and size and will have varying impact on traffic in Stoneham's downtown area and emergency services.
The Committee, however, appeared to favor the grandest of the ideas which would close off a section of Central Street and all of Church Street to traffic and would call for an extensive grass expanse from Main Street to the front steps of Town Hall. This project, of course, would have the most impact on the area, eradicating 49 street parking spaces and forcing more traffic onto Main Street and other, lesser-used routes while adding an attractive recreational area in the heart of the town and getting off on good footing with the Downtown Revitalization Project.
"I think it would be awful to walk away from an absolutely stunning development without considering it first," Committee member Don Borchelt said of this design (labeled 5 on page 5).
Selectman John Biggio also voiced his support for this option, saying that the committee may want to focus on a large-scale project and reduce its size if it is deemed necessary.
Option 1 calls for the closing of Church Street, a move which would allow a fairly substantial expanse of lawn while having minimal impact on traffic.
While this is true, the downtown area would lose 23 parking spaces on Church Street. Those spaces, however, could be recovered once the municipal parking lot is completed. More spaces could also be gained by demolishing the three properties on the corner of Winter and Main Streets (highlighted in bold on the plans) and designating that area along with that in the rear for parking.
Option 2 would likely have the least amount of impact on the area. The plan calls for the closing of Winter Street, the result of which would be the loss of 10 parking spaces. In addition to the green space indicated on the plan with a dashed line, the three properties on the corner of Winter and Main could also be incorporated.
All of the properties between Church and Winter Street will be purchased by the town and demolished.
Option 3 calls for the closing of both Church and Winter streets and may be the least likely plan of the five. Downtown parking would be reduced by 33 and would not allow for any replacement for the lost spaces.
Option 4 would not require the closing of either Winter or Church street, but would require the closing of a large portion of Central Street. Only 20 parking spaces would be lost, but traffic impacts could be major.
The committee plans to meet at the beginning of August and will conduct a walk-through of the area at that time.
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