“We’re going to live with this project starting in 2022 and it’s gong to be like hell for us. It’s going to take a lot of traffic and put it onto the Post Road, and at the end of it – in 3-4 years, we’re still going to live with an insufficient highway.”
Michael SimkoMr. Camillo said I-95 had been developed primarily for military transport in the 1950s, not for the current levels of traffic.
“I have to assume they are taking into consideration the volume of traffic there today,” he said.
“We’re going to put $200 million into a project when it should really be designed for 175,000 cars per day?” Simko asked. “We’re going to go through all this headache, to live with this construction project for so many years, and then come out of it right where we stand today.”
John Macri Jr had a different angle. He said he supported sound barriers, but was concerned that the project might be stalled by the DOT if residents made demands.
“If we ask for sound barriers, what is that going to do to the plan?” he asked. “And is that going to annoy people up at the State and they put things aside and the improvements as a whole won’t get done?”
“There are a number of people in the legislature in Hartford that don’t want to spend any more money (than they have to) for Greenwich,” Macri said.
Sate Rep Meskers noted there was also a town project in the works for Frontage Road at the end of the Exit 2 southbound off ramp. That town project is to be funded with State dollars.
In an update on Saturday from State Senator Alex Kasser, (D-36), she said she too had spoken with DOT about the issue and urged them to limit tree clearing and erect sound barriers to protect the community and the environment.
Hamill Rink
Mr. Camillo said he had met with Don Sylvester and David Wold, veterans who live in the Byram area, to discuss how a new Hamill Rink might impact the adjacent Eugene Morlot Park where there are about 15 trees with monuments below are dedicated to Byram and Pemberwick service men who lost their lives serving their country.
Over the decades, local veterans and family of fallen servicemen have been a voice for the park, which was named after Eugene Morlot, a custodian at the former Byram School who wanted to honor former students who died in service.
Back in 1986, the town removed the monuments and proposed returning them all on a single marble plaque. Local activist Anne M Kristoff led a successful charge to have the markers returned to their spots under the majestic Sycamores.
In 2019, veterans objected when a new swing set and rubber mat underneath it were installed just a step from a memorial monument. Dr. Kramer, the town tree warden, said his research indicated there had previously been a swing set in the same location and that it had wood chips underneath it.
On a separate occasion in 2019, relatives of for Donald Repaci, who gave his life in Vietnam at the age of 20, were shocked to see the mature Oak tree at his memorial had been cut down by the Town. In that event, the tree had been badly damaged in a storm and the tree warden apologized for not informing the family in advance.
In addition to Town employees including rink supervisor Rich Ernye, the skating rink committee is mainly comprised of skating enthusiasts, including Rick Loh (Parks & Rec board), Lorin Pratley (Greenwich Skating Club), Keith Orrico (Greenwich Blues), Gus Lindine (GHS Athletic Director), Bill Drake (BET) and Nancy Leamy (Greenwich Skating School).
“I think it’s always better to have the community on board rather than coming to them at the end,” Camillo said adding, “Right now (the rink) is slated to go in the Dorothy Hamill parking lot. The veterans group was concerned it would overshadow the park.”
Camillo said Alan Monelli, who is Greenwich’s Superintendent of Building Construction & Maintenance, was aware of concerns about encroaching on the Eugene Morlot Park and the memorials.
“He realized that, so they’re trying to get (the rink) as far away as possible, including maybe moving the playground, which is right up against the memorial, and that would create some space,” Camillo said.
Camillo added that the rink is in the budget for next year and that he would seek to raise money privately to help fund the project.
Lastly, Camillo said he was also interested in creating signage that would direct visitors to the Strazza baseball field, the rink, the playground and to the Eugene Morlot Park. All are accessed via Sue Merz Way.
John Macri Jr said his father John Macri Sr is a veteran and that he too was concerned about the positioning of the new rink.
“The skating rink, as it is proposed now, encroaches up against that park,” Macri said. “I’m glad that people have looked at that including Byram Veterans and Ninth District veterans. That concerns me because my father is an active member in the Byram Vets and has been doing a lot with the memorial park.”
Vice Chair Liz Eckert, whose brother in law Donald Repaci was honored in the park with a memorial, said she planned to join the veterans in attending the rink meetings and report back to the BNA.
Business Resurgence in Byram
Kory Wollins, who owns the popular eatery Burgers, Shakes & Fries at 302 Delavan Ave in Byram, and heads the BNA’s business development committee, talked about creating a more vibrant shopping district.
He noted that prior to 2008, Byram was experiencing a resurgence, but the recession had taken a toll.
He said many of the BNA’s efforts would contribute to a vibrant, healthy, safe, walkable downtown, including the addition of trees, improving the streetscape and addressing parking and traffic issues.
Wollins said it was important to have a healthy mix of businesses.
“If you are a landlord, or a land owner, or someone who is friends with a landlord or landowner, you should be reaching out to these people and telling them, ‘Hey we don’t need another barber shop. We don’t need another Lotto shop. We don’t need another vape shop.’ If you want a healthy downtown community full of great retail uses, you should be encouraging (them) to put in things that benefit the community.”
On a positive note, Wollins said two new businesses had recently opened in Byram, including a mixed martial arts studio near the Firehouse Deli, and a vintage shop called The Marketplace by Fofie & Mia’s at 248 Mill Street.
On the topic of traffic, Mr. Camillo said he planned to be in touch with the Mayor Filanka of Port Chester, just over the Mill Street Bridge where there are plans in the works for several multi-story apartment buildings, including Tarry Lighthouse which was recently approved following a series of public hearings both before and during the pandemic.
Camillo said the town’s new blight ordinance was still in the works and he expected it to be on the call for the March RTM meeting.
See also:
Jan 24, 2021
Amendment to Greenwich Nuisance Ordinance Would Add Muscle in Abating Blighted Properties
July 2020
First Selectman to Target Blighted Properties in Byram
June 2020
After Decades of Complaints, Blighted Byram House is Razed
November 19, 2019