Back to Life – Hospital development is good news for the town

At long last, development plans for the former Winthrop Community Hospital building on Lincoln Street, which has been vacant for 10 years, will be going forward after the Planning Board gave its unanimous approval to a condominium project on Monday night.

Winthrop Hospital closed in 1992 and its successor user, the Winthrop Community Health Center, shut down its operations in 1999. Ever since then, the development of the property has become embroiled in controversy.

But that chapter in the town’s history is over as Winthrop Cove Realty moves toward the construction of the 74 units that will go into the former hospital building. The development will generate an estimated $250,000 in property tax revenue annually, in addition to the excise taxes that vehicle owners will pay to the town.

The developer, Tina Brzezenski of Pezzuti Development, has shown a lot of enthusiasm about the project. She feels the new residences (studios, one-, two- and three-bedroom condos) will provide an opportunity for young people to stay in town. Likewise, for empty nesters looking to downsize, the condos will provide an ideal opportunity for them to enjoy carefree condo living.

We look forward to the old hospital building being brought back to life and being renewed as a new resource for our town after having served our community so well for so many years.