Submitted by James O’Brien
As a former member of the RTM (Districts 8 and 1), I have long advocated for data-driven decision-making over “sales pitch” planning.
Recently, I applied a planimeter—a mechanical tool for measuring hard copies of the site plan area, pre computers, of the existing and proposed plans for the Hamill Rink. The results: “The Flip” adds approximately a 35% increase in impervious surfaces to Morlot Park.
The Town’s dismissal of the Harborside site—the Berg proposal—feels less like an objective analysis and more like a foregone conclusion. The Task Force cited flood zones as a dealbreaker for Harborside while the Town’s Building Regulations allow such construction.
Yet they remained perfectly willing to “investigate” the Island Beach lots in the same flood zone.
Also, they looked at the Island Beach parking lots despite the presence of toxic fill into the marshes that existed before the parking lots. Known by anyone familiar with the dumping of said fill from the old Power Plant, similar to that found at Western Middle School and GHS. This is a clear double standard.
Perhaps most concerning is the claim of “child safety with Harborside.” Thousands cross Arch Street to the ferries and events at Baldwin Park, the proposed location of Harborside. One look at the current pick up chaos at Western Middle School reveals another truth of the flip: funneling students, skaters, and baseball players into a single, high-density conflict zone is a disaster waiting to happen. Pick up and drop offs would most certainly be increased to the Flip’s new parking lot, via the sidewalk across Western Jr Highway from WMS.
The community must consider the long-term impact of this “warehouse-style” design. At 50 feet above and adjacent to Western Jr. Highway and 250 feet long, this structure will loom over McKinley Terrace, Putnam Green, Western Jr. Highway, and disrespect the Veteran’s Memorial section. Furthermore, moving to a 12-month operating cycle (purportedly increased from 7 months) in a strictly residential neighborhood is a recipe for a traffic nightmare—especially when contrasted with Harborside’s existing commercial infrastructure, updated traffic signaling, and partially empty parking lots, since so many now work from home.
Note where the original rink is placed in an unobtrusive corner of the Park. If the proposal is built, it will be an eyesore for all to see.
“The Flip” is projected to cost up to $11M, more than a Harborside including the renovation of the existing rink (Gemini’s Estimate). I urge our RTM members to vote only for Architecture & Engineering (A&E) funds at this time. We should force the Town to provide a transparent, side-by-side cost-benefit analysis before we permanently ruin The Eugene Morolot Memorial Park.
Renovate the existing and build anew elsewhere.