This is a printer-friendly version of an article from Zip06.com.

Must Give the Option

When we last debated publicly, the Academy School vote was going to be whether or not to sign a lease with Shoreline Arts Alliance for a cultural arts center. How did we go from the lease of a building only, with a non-profit organization for a community use, to the sale of the building, ball fields, and open space to a private developer for a multi-million dollar high-density residential development?

Last December the town issued a request for proposal (RFP) seeking proposals for commercial development of the Academy School building and surrounding five acres of land, including the ball fields and open space. By its terms ,the RFP stated the town’s purpose and intention is to “encourage economic development” and “maximize benefits to taxpayers.” Not surprisingly,the proposals received are all for high-density residential development of the entire five-plus acres.

How did this happen? What about other options? Why hasn’t an RFP for restoration and re-use of the Academy building only under a long-term ground lease for educational or community use been issued? Why not an option that would relieve the town of the cost of carrying and restoring the Academy School (while continuing to own the property), preserve this historically significant building, and save our ball fields and open space? An option that does not dramatically change the landscape of our historic Town Green area?

The referendum must give taxpayers the option to vote on a non-development use and preserve the character of our historic Town Green.

Catherine Donovan

Madison