How Voting for Article 3 Will Allow 100 Apartment Units at the Mall to Replace Retail Like Donelan’s, Twisted Tree, Etc.
March 15, 2024
By Ben Shiller

After the December vote, I tried to move on and work with Option C with one singular goal in mind: save the retail for current and future residents.  As part of that effort, I wrote an article for the Squirrel outlining how we can do it.  While the planning board did a lot of excellent work, I fear that not enough was done to protect retail.  The current HCA proposal actually harms retail, rather than helps. 

I have created a video explaining why the proposed zoning of the Mall  under Article 3 imperils the Mall.  See below.

I thank and applaud the two planning board members who stood up to voice their concerns about this issue.  In the current environment, it is not easy to stand up against the status quo.

I had hoped to vote yes for Article 3, but that was contingent on the bylaws protecting the Mall.  Because they don't protect retail and are actively harmful to retail, I plan to vote no on Article 3.