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Begin the Renovation

Our family has lived in Clinton since 1946 and as long time residents we have seen many changes over the years. The one undeniable truth is that the old town, with its lovely elm trees lining Main Street that epitomized New England charm, has vanished to be replaced with mismatched and poorly maintained buildings with little or no character.

Every other town along the shoreline has transformed its Main Street into attractive areas that encourage people to stroll along looking into shop windows and frequent local businesses. Not in Clinton. In spite of the towns efforts to beautify the downtown section with new street lights and sidewalks, the area from Route 81 west along Route 1 remains a disaster. When people arrive on the train, conveniently located within walking distance to the town, they are greeted by a view of ramshackle buildings with peeling paint, weeds, Dumpsters, and trashed cars.

Development of this area, the so called “gateway to Clinton,” is crucial to the improvement of the town. CVS has proposed a new plan to renovate this area, one that does not include a drive through, which the Planning & Zoning Commission felt would contribute to traffic congestion, and conforms to existing zoning rules. The Clinton Historical Society says the three buildings on the property should be preserved to maintain the small-town charm of Clinton. Preservation of historical buildings is a laudable goal, however, when these buildings are in such deplorable condition, there is no charm to preserve.

With no other offers in sight, waiting for a better proposal might take years. How long do we wait before we begin to see the town start its renovation? CVS should be encouraged to finalize its plans and build an attractive building to begin the renovation of the town we love.

Ken and Andrea Belous

Clinton