Clunk
Once upon a time a development firm arrived in our neighborhood flying the non-profit flag. Having created in their past some competent affordable construction, but as happens periodically in the industry an occasional clunker resonates from the drawing board, as in the case of Clearwater Bend – Reed Street proposed development. The sound of clunk emanates. After having spent over two years trying to convince Westbrook City Hall and the residents of Reed Street they should without question embrace their plan wholeheartedly, because of course it’s a CHOM (Community Housing of Maine) idea and their only concern is the little guy.
It seems perfectly reasonable to CHOM that 23 units of rental housing be dropped in the midst of 28 privately owned homes that make up the Reed Street neighborhood. Excuse me, but lets back up, only 27 homes as one home would be removed to make way for a so called driveway, which would cut into Reed Street while severely diminishing the properties adjacent to the said driveway. The virtual overnight doubling of the population of Reed Street appears not to be a sensible sociological move, therefore to the residents here and most outside observers this plan appears ill conceived and over the top, which also describes the impact that would result from an increase of traffic. Using CHOM’s own verbiage from our first meeting Jan. 27, 2005, “there may be up to 100 vehicle trips per day,” which to anyone who resides on Reed Street and had to live with the traffic situation 24 hours/7 days a week year around would be adding insult to what hopefully would not be injuries.
CHOM says they tend to target young professionals to fill their subsidized housing units. One wonders how they can pick and choose applicants in this fashion, and it is really doable and ethical. Of course, once CHOM has left the scene and turned control of the units over to a management company the selection of future tenants would then be handled by an entirely new entity, which could very well result in a less than satisfactory situation.
We were told at the Jan. 27 meeting with CHOM that there would be a number of mentally and emotionally challenged tenants sited to reside in this complex and that these folks would have access to the appropriate psychological and medical supervision required around the clock. However, at the site walk on March 26, we were told by CHOM that the supervision of these folks would be in the vicinity of 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., so take your pick. There certainly has been a bit of having to read between the lines for our neighborhood in dealing with CHOM. I think it is time to give up what I feel and many others deem to be an unconscionable disaster, the Clearwater Bend/Reed Street proposed development plan.
CHOM’s spokesman has stated numerous times their interest lies in the little guy, and the working folks. We the present residents of Reed Street feel he must be talking to us as we fit those parameters, therefore, if CHOM is truly concerned with our welfare as upstanding tax paying proud citizens of Westbrook, we ask you to please do the right thing by dropping this plan, and with our blessings, hopefully, you will find a suitable piece of land perhaps in Westbrook that will meet the needs and could be a success to everyone concerned. As you leave Reed Street remember to look both ways, because as a Westbrook Police officer once said, “This is an accident waiting to happen.”
Roger Dolloff
Westbrook
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