Town Common Project means big changes for Stoneham
Published on May 19th, 1999
STONEHAM, MA - Phase One of the Town Common Project, now under construction, will bring 63 new parking spots to the downtown area, and Phase Two promises a two-acre common between Town Hall and Main Street.
"This is the biggest thing in Stoneham," said Project Director Joseph Slavet of Boston. "We are planning for the next 100 years."
Slavet has helped the town obtain $3.2 million in state grant money to help fund the $4.8 million project. Citizens at Town Meeting agreed to fund the rest.
Levy, Eldridge and Wagner Associates of Framingham are designing both phases of the project. Quirk Construction of Wakefield began work last week on the parking lot, which abuts McDonough's Liquors on Central Street.
Much of the money spent on the Town Common Project has gone to relocating businesses in the area around Town Hall.
"We moved a nail salon, an auto body garage and some residential units," Slavet said.
According to Slavet, not everyone was happy to move, but they were paid, and some were excited to relocate.
"A dentist we relocated is doing over his whole office," Slavet said.
Opposition to the current town common design centers around Central Street. The plan discussed last week by the Town Common Committee proposed closing Central Street to all vehicles except police and fire personnel.
In a letter to the editor, former selectmen Jack Mahoney de-scribed the plan as insensitive to the needs of the community.
"The committee should adjust their plan to the reality of the established driving patterns and the needs of the townspeople..." Mahoney wrote.
Slavet said the project is designed for the needs of the people.
"The town needs a major pedestrian site where people can walk from store to store, after parking off of the street," Slavet said.
He said closing Central Street would help the local economy without significantly altering any major traffic patterns. He also said he believes surrounding real estate values will go up as a result of this project.
"Even the parking lot is going to be like a park," Slavet said; more than 40 trees will ring the lot along with other greenery and landscaping.
"This is the type of project that can really change a town's attitude about itself," Slavet said.
Mahoney wants a town common but claims he will bring the issue to a Special Town Meeting if the Town Common Committee insists on closing Central Street.
The committee is willing to listen to and encourages citizen input, member Mark Vaughan said.
"We believe that this plan has received a lot of study, but we want to hear any further commentary," Vaughan said.
"This project is designed to upgrade the physical fabric of Stoneham," Slavet said.
Mahoney calls the new plan "reckless."
The Town Common Committee will hold a regular session June 9 and a public hearing June 16, both at 7:30 p.m. in the Town Hall.
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