This is a case of NIMBY and fear of the unknown as neighbors are being organized to oppose the construction of a Women's Center shelter in a long vacant lot on Breen Avenue. The 7500 square foot structure would house women and the building conforms to the residential C zoning and was unanimously approved by the Planning Board.
Ironically, one Planning Board member lives adjacent to the site.
The fear is that a "crazy boyfriend" will seek out a woman staying there, although the existence of shelters elsewhere in the City do not support this fear.
The site once housed DiStefano's Florist and in recent years has remained vacant in what has long been a mixed use neighborhood.
There is a meeting at 6PM at the Italian American Club.
People are naturally concerned about neighbhorhood character and property values. However, since the proposed use conforms to zoning there is little legal basis for City Council to block it based solely on not liking the use.
City Council will have to act on the proposed site plan at an upcoming meeting.
Watertown Daily Times Neighors set meeting on proposed women’s shelter
5 comments:
Is that the lot that was listed for 75k since forever and never sold? I guess that is one way of getting your asking price...use not for profit free money instead of free market money.
If we already have women's shelters around the city with no problems...maybe it is time for a man's shelter instead.
One difference is that us wife beaters don't know where the other shelters are...but we know where this one will be.
My first thought when the story aired on the news last night was, "Why would it be a good idea to publicize the location of the shelter home". My second thought was, "Wow. It doesn't matter young or old. There are way too many mean-spirited people native to Watertown".
The difference in this situation is the fact that it has been greatly publicized where this new shelter will be built. Any current or future abuser will probably remember this or they will be able to google it and find the news articles about it and find the location. The Victim's Assistance Center previously bought existing structures under a different name so no one knew where the shelters were. I can understand why neighbors are upset because people today do stupid things and suppose some boyfriend or husband goes on a shooting spree and perhaps shoot anyone they see around this structure. It happens elsewhere - it can happen here.
Mr. Morgia says "No one wants one of those next to them." One of "those" is going to be a nice looking home. Isn't that what you do want next to you. He makes it sound like it will be a prison! Is his daughter was being abused and needed a safe, home-like place to go when she had no money because the person abusing her controlled the finances, and she could not get to Daddy's house, where would he want her to go. Someplace like the motel down the road?
The neighbors should have bought the lot.
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