Real cure is progress
After the area experienced two fires in within a two-week span, the Haven Group, LLC has engaged the services of a security company in order to make sure more blazes do not erupt. Earlier this month a fire began at 22 Richards Place, and though officials are calling it of “undetermined” origin, officials believe the fire was accidentally set by homeless people or squatters, who were trying to keep warm in sub-freezing temperatures.
After the area experienced two fires in within a two-week span, the Haven Group, LLC has engaged the services of a security company in order to make sure more blazes do not erupt. Earlier this month a fire began at 22 Richards Place, and though officials are calling it of “undetermined” origin, officials believe the fire was accidentally set by homeless people or squatters, who were trying to keep warm in sub-freezing temperatures.
Within a week a fire began at the former Bilco Door factory. This time, officials believed the fire was deliberately set. The Haven Group, which is planning to put a high-end outlet complex at the site, secured the services of a security firm in order to provide some piece of mind to city officials and nearby homeowners. It was a necessary move.
The fires, though unexpected, were not surprising to many who have watched the four-block area languish for the past two years. Most of the properties extending from Elm Street west to Main Street, and including Bayview Park were bought by the development corporation early on. The final properties were not secured until last year. Still, properties were boarded up and left until the red tape that accompanies such projects was got through. At the time of the fires paperwork with the state Dept. of Transportation was still awaited.
It is no secret that the Haven Project has been slower than expected in gaining the necessary permits and approvals. The administration of former Mayor Edward M. O’Brien had put much of its own budgetary hopes in the permit process, several times including expected revenues from permits to help balance out the books. Unfortunately, the process was slower than anyone could imagine. Add to that the fact that properties were not fully secured, and we have the situation we are now experiencing.
The good news is that business owners around the area report that a letter was received from the developers saying demolition of the homes would begin sometime around March 1. Even if it is another few weeks before that happens, the fact there is a time-line is encouraging. The decaying homes are an attractive nuisance to drug dealing, squatting and the like. The sooner they are gone the better.
Demolition also presages the construction of the multi-million dollar development, and the needed tax revenue and jobs the project promises. The Haven has been 22 years in coming. A project of its kind was announced in the fall of 1997, and has seen fits and starts ever since.
We hope the demolition process begins sooner rather than later. That will mean no more fires and no more problems for homeowners in that section of the city.
Vitriol is back
We expect last week’s kerfuffle between Mayor Nancy Rossi and former Mayor Edward O’Brien will be the first shot in what will be a long war of attrition between the two. Rossi and O’Brien had a tough and acrimonious campaign two years ago, with Rossi pulling out a surprising primary victory and eventual win of the mayoralty.
O’Brien is seeking return to City Hall, and is thinking seriously of an independent run, especially since it is expected City Clerk Deborah Collins will announce her candidacy.
Last week’s back-and-forth between the two promises to be the first shots in a long campaign. Neither like the other, and pull no punches in their characterizations. We hope it goes beyond that, with more positive pledges and proposals. We shall see.