Letters to the Editor

Viking Gardens Should Not be in CBD

Dear Editor,

At the July 15, 2019 meeting of the Planning Board, at the request of the Town Council, the Board reviewed and discussed the “Proposed Center Business District (CBD Boundary 2019)”

The Board made it quite clear that the proposed “CBD Boundary 2019” map was not created or discussed by this board at any time prior to this meeting.

The purpose of the review was for the Planning Board, per the request of the Town Council, to make recommendations to the Council regarding the CBD Boundary. After much discussion, the Board voted unanimously to send a recommendation to the Council to keep the CBD boundaries as they are now and leave any changes or additions, including the Viking Gardens, to future deliberations by the council. It appeared during the discussion, that there was a consensus of the Board that Viking Gardens should never be included in the CBD.

The State of Massachusetts, through the Winthrop Housing (WHA) under MGL 121B created affordable housing for Veterans, Senior citizens and Disabled residents.

Viking Gardens was the first such development in Winthrop. Any zoning decision(s) regarding affordable housing in Winthrop should respect and preserve the current use.

At the July 22, 2019 meeting of the Winthrop Housing Authority, after a lengthy discussion regarding the matter of the Planning Board recommendation to the Council regarding the CBD Boundary, a motion was made, seconded and passed to advise the Town Council that the members of the Winthrop Housing Authority are unanimously opposed to having the Housing Authority property known as Viking Gardens (105-107 Putnam Street) ever to be included in the CBD.

Therefore, The Winthrop Housing Authority respectfully requests that Viking Gardens, 105-107 Putnam Street, NEVER be included in the CBD

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions, 617-645-3656.

Thank you for your attention to this matter,

Peter T. Gill,

Chairman, Winthrop

Housing Authority