OPINION/LETTER: Translating developers' comments over Middletown Center
Translating developers' comments over Middletown Center
Developers Bicho, Kempenaar, Karam and attorney Galvin presented their plan for development of the property on West Main Road to the (Middletown) Town Council.
Galvin: “ We are responding to this town's request for proposals(RFP), I think the only thing really that has been at issue, or IS NOT specifically identified by the town as something the town wants is the hotel. Everything else are needs that you specifically requested.... We are trying to meet each of the requests that have been made for this proposal...certainly with this project the hotel is going to be a part of it OR IT'S NOT going to happen..”
Let me translate: We couldn't care less what the town requested. My developers have come up with a plan to do what they do best, milk every dollar from this project.
Bicho: “We own 268 units (The Landings) north of the site. We have such a housing deficit on this island. We could use a thousand (more) rental units.”
Bicho tells us 150 apartments are in his project.
When questioned about the number affordable units: “We are going to work on that, So minimum has to be ten percent... we are going to get about that.”
Let me translate: My housing plan means that there will be 15 affordable units. But who's counting? Didn't I just say the town could use a thousand new units? This council is so blinded by the veil of green currency that misdirection is child's play. A proposal that included only housing, a library and open space would be a winner. But my pals Kempenaar and Karam want more. As for the 10% state requirement for affordable housing? For us that's a ceiling. We would never think about making a true commitment to workforce housing unless required.
The moral character of the town council is being tested here. Years ago Tom Welch had to struggle with fellow firemen to get time before the town council to discuss challenges facing their contract negotiations. Contempt from the then president's chair filled the room. So it was more than a disappointment when now Vice President Welch, after a speaker criticized the West Main project, said this:
“Just a question, because I'm curious, and I probably shouldn't say this. Is there anything you liked about the proposal?”
Middletown Center: Town Council puts backing behind project as it moves forward
In the past, and especially now, history reflects on the moral character of our elected officials. Comments made by council members, unfortunately, demonstrate a lack of character that should define leadership. This town continues to suffer as a consequence.
“Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power.”( In 1890, Robert G. Ingersoll, a politician, used this phrase to describe Abraham Lincoln)
Lawrence Frank, Middletown
The rewards of patience
I ordered an air filter for my car today online from Amazon. Why online? Because it was less expensive than buying one locally. It will be delivered tomorrow. And I know there are pros and cons to this. Particularly the cons of a large internet-based company pricing the smaller vendors out of business, to furthering the loss of brick-n-mortar stores, to the carbon footprint left for the delivery of a single item; believe me, these things don’t escape me. But I also know corporations make “it’s just business” type decisions all the time that we are forced to endure, and therefore it leaves us with having to do the same.
All that aside for a moment, the still astonishing thing to this Gen Xer after all these years is that it will be delivered tomorrow. That’s remarkable! The technology, the logistics, and the people that make it happen are all amazing when you think about it. Why? Because I grew up in a time where the delivery of something usually took 4 to 6 weeks. That was just the accepted norm, long but understood.
A perfect example: Remember those book club flyers they had in the schools in the 1970s & 80s? As a kid, you’d browse the offerings, pick out a book you liked, ask your parents for the money, turn in the order form to your teacher, and then wait and wait for the book to arrive a month and half later. One really learned patience. But it was a banner day when it came. You’d smell the newness of the pages in the same way you smelled the papers that came off the mimeograph machine your teacher used to print classroom assignments on. It was a magical moment.
I particularly remember ordering the book “Escape from Warsaw.” It was a riveting tale about a family of children who escaped the Nazis in War World II Poland. They journeyed through the demolished cities and enemy-held countryside to seek sanctuary in Switzerland with the hope of reuniting with their parents. I couldn’t put the book down (later, I even shared it with my own child). The story was my reward for waiting so long. And it was worth it.
Anyway, I get my air filter tomorrow. Not really going to be a banner day. I suppose nowadays we learn patience by waiting at airports for flights that may or may not arrive. And it’s a banner day if they are on-time.
Jeffrey Thomas, Tiverton
This article originally appeared on Newport Daily News: LETTER: Translating developers' comments over Middletown Center
