Looking at the CBD
Dear Editor:
My vision for the Center Business District (“CBDâ€) and old middle school property includes a vibrant and active Town Centre, thriving small businesses and great restaurants, music, culture, and friendly people.
The June 28th community meeting regarding economic development presented important data about Winthrop. Notably, Winthrop has lost population and businesses during the last several years and has a significantly smaller tax base than comparison communities. The Town Centre cannot thrive without people and foot traffic. And as we know from the Pleasant Street nursing home, vacant and underutilized properties are a concern for the whole community.
Winthrop is uniquely positioned for positive economic growth. The Town is an up-and-coming, desirable location that is steps from Boston, accessible by public transportation, and right on the beach and harbor. Winthrop has a tremendous opportunity right now to leverage Town property in order to bring investment into the local economy, increase the tax base, support existing business, create a vibrant marketplace, and establish the amenities our residents want. In short, we may be able to regain our diminished population and tax base. At the same time, if we do not proceed thoughtfully and carefully the decline of recent years could very well continue.
Maintaining or developing a community/youth center is an important goal many have expressed, and is a priority for me personally. It is imperative our youth have a safe place to play sports, for extra curricular activities, and for just hanging out after school. As a community, we need to figure out how we might finance a community/youth center with the least burden to the existing Town budget and taxpayers. This will no doubt mean that a variety of resources, public and private, will be needed.
Winthrop, with the help of professional consultants and resident experts, must investigate all of the different development scenarios for the CBD and old middle school in order to determine which option creates the greatest value for the community.
It is very possible a mixed-use development on the middle school property could include a community/youth center that would in part be financed by a private developer. This type of development would be a win-win for Winthrop: The Town would get new community space without relying exclusively on taxpayers, and the development would bring people, jobs, and activity to support our local businesses and invigorate the Town Centre.
A development that increases the density in the CBD deserves serious consideration. A new residential development would support our local businesses and – with careful planning – would not adversely affect traffic, parking, or residential neighborhoods. Moreover, a new residential development would expand our tax base and provide funding for additional Town services.
As we speak, all options for the CBD and the old middle school require further study. We need market analysis, economic data, traffic analysis, and budgets. Any development would have to be accompanied by improvements in public transportation. It is important to remind ourselves that redevelopment, when done correctly, is a time consuming and complicated journey. That’s not to say, however, that we take no action in the short term. All great redevelopment plans have short, medium, and long term measures; we need expect the same here.
Last, Winthrop has a reputation for being unfriendly to businesses and potential developers. It is time for that to change. As a Town Councilor, I am committed to carefully evaluating and acting on development plans and new ideas for growth. I am committed to applying the same rules to each matter so that the business climate in Winthrop is fair and predicable. We can absolutely move forward while protecting our neighborhoods against inappropriate proposals.
Let’s imagine, by listening to all our voices, the very best for the Town Centre and for the community – and then figure out how to make it happen.
Heather A. Engman
Town Council – Precinct 4
Economic Development Sub-Committee
The information was useful
 Dear Editor:
Thank you for your recent Winthrop Transcript article Citizens Concerned About Nursing Home Use. I live in the neighborhood and was unaware of the possibility the property could be operated as a methadone clinic. Although I am aware of the owners previous unsuccessful attempts to convert the property to residential (condo) use. The information you provided from Messrs. DeLeo and Boncore’s offices was especially helpful. I look forward to your subsequent reporting on this issue.
 Linda Cargill
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Summer is here, talk to your teens
Dear Editor:
I am directing this article toward parents of Winthrop teens but many young adults could take note of my points here too. In referring to teenagers, I cast no judgement, only concern for the wellbeing of this community.
The pipers have taken over Winthrop Beach so this summer all of 02152 will be enjoying the sun, sand and sea at Yirrell. In order to do this peacefully I respectfully ask that you speak to your teens about drinking, swearing, littering and most especially relieving themselves in public. Although there is a port-a-potty on the Yirrell end of the beach, many are opting to actually pee next to it, on the wall, in sand piles etc…
Why? Perhaps the water is too cold, the line is too long, it’s too far from their seats or possibly it’s because they’ve been day drinking since 10am in the bright sun and are too drunk to realize that that they are making a spectacle of themselves. Some don’t appear to realize this is offensive, especially in front of parents that made them PB&J’s when they were little, their teachers, neighbors and younger impressionable kids. The lunch money you gave them went to nips & beer and no, the cooler they borrowed wasn’t for water, so they have been drinking all day on an empty stomach. The trash they leave on the beach will be picked up by caring neighbors or left to cut a curious toddlers hand. So please, when your teen tells you they are meeting “everyone†down at the beach, ask them what they are doing down there, what’s going in the backpack, and if they know to pick up their trash. Even better, be sure that they remember to throw a trash bag in their bag before they leave the house. Please remind them that voices carry so be sure to speak respectfully. Basically, let them know you’re on to them and are aware of what they are doing. The conversation alone will make them think twice about their actions.
It is very unnerving to be sitting on the beach, trying to enjoy a beautiful sunny day, having to worry about a drunk kid falling off the sea wall or feeing obligated to follow them off the beach to make sure they don’t get in a car and drive away.
While all offenders are not teens, they are not all punks either. They are your athletes, your mathletes, your performers and more. They are our youth and our future and all I ask is that you make them aware that their actions on the beach do in fact affect others. Kids in high school are too young to be drinking, period. Relieving themselves in public is undeniably not ok.
They are too young to be jeopardizing their future with potential employers who watch them stumble around making a spectacle of themselves. They are good kids doing stupid stuff thinking no one notices or cares. Well, I notice and I care. I don’t want to see them get hurt. I don’t want to see them either intentionally or unintentionally hurt someone else. I don’t want young children to play in their urine, watch them fall off a cement wall or God forbid drown.
I believe that it takes a village, so I implore you to step in and have a conversation with your teens. Remind them of how fortunate they are to be able to go to a beach, hang with their friends, listen to music, play games, flirt, swim and simply enjoy their hometown beauty. But ask that they do it with respect for those around them. It’s not just adults who notice their behavior. Younger kids are watching; they look up to them, emulate them – teach them to set a good example. The actions that I witnessed on a recent beautiful sunny day were unquestionably neither behaviors these impressionable children should strive to emulate nor actions that any innocent beach goer should be subjected to.
A Fellow Beach Goer