Officials Seek Residents to Get Involved in Centre Plan

By Sue Ellen Woodcock

Talk about doing something to the Centre Business District has been going on for years and Tuesday night the Town Council got a briefing on the possibilities that exist for the area and they want to get the community more involved in the plans.

Joe Domelowicz, who works on economic development and grants for Winthrop, gave presentation about the possibilities that exist in the Centre Business District and the soon-to-be “old” middle/high school.

“This is a vision for the town center,” Domelowicz said, stressing that his presentation was not a proposal but a preparation for economic development success. He said there will be a master plan and he wants to start getting community input.

“The scale (of the project) is what is sensitive,” Town Manager James McKenna said. “We don’t want to be something we’re not.”

Which is why the involvement of the community is such an important piece of the plan.

“The more clear the vision is the more you are to attract developers,” McKenna said.

Domelowicz said the town has a $50,000 grant to work with. Also lending assistance will be the Metropolitan Planning Council, Mass Development and the Winthrop Chamber of Commerce. He hopes to be able to create an advisory board too.

“The goal is to turn $50,000 into a $100,000 plan,” Domelowicz said, adding that it should take six to nine months. He’s also like to see three or four public visioning meetings.

The plan could include use of the old school, parking, transportation and business.

Councilor Rich Boyajian said he was concerned about large-scale development versus incremental development. He wants to see a level of input from experts.

McKenna said the town does have the study from the Collins Center, which talked a lot about economic development. McKenna added that regional development is also a concern.

Councilor Linda Calla asked if the soon to be old school on Pauline Street could perhaps be demolished and rebuilt for something like a new police and fire station.

“Everything is possible,” McKenna said, adding that the cost of demolition and construction may be cost prohibitive. So far 16 different business people have looked at the school. On the up side, McKenna said the town has strong partnerships and the strength of the Commonwealth behind the town through the Governor’s community compact.