Looking at new uses for former light department property in Braintree Residents offer views on reuse of BELD plant site

By Fred Hanson
The Patriot Ledger

Posted Mar 26, 2010 @ 06:52 AM

BRAINTREE — Residents of the area had strong feelings about what they don’t want on the site of the original Braintree Electric Light Department plant on Allen Street.

“No condos,” many in the audience of about three dozen called out during a meeting sponsored by the town’s planning and community development department Thursday night.

“It would make it too congested, too many people,” said Erin Downing of Allen Street.

Many would like to see the area developed as a park, with walkways along the riverfront.

Architect David Gamble of the Community Design Resource Center of Boston said the purpose of the meeting was to get some ideas from the public on how to redevelop the property.

Gamble wasn’t afraid to challenge some of the opinions held by residents.

“Open spaces that are isolated are not the best and safest places to be,” Gamble said. “A park by itself, who is going to pay for it?”

Around the meeting room at the Watson Building on Quincy Avenue, not far from the site, there were pictures of development possibilities, from a residential development to a waterfront amphitheater. Gamble said that a good mix would be about 75 percent open space to 25 percent development.

Gamble said the two of the four buildings on the site, the former light department offices and another building fronting on Allen Street are both structurally sound and good candidates for being converted to new uses.

“Residential is sometimes the best use for old industrial buildings,” Gamble said.

Mayor Joseph Sullivan said the property has sat unused for the past 14 years. He called the site “a special space” that provides a lot of opportunities.

Given the location, the close proximity of a commuter rail station and the stores and restaurants in Weymouth Landing, Sullivan suggested housing limited to people over-55 years of age as a possible use.

One priority is a walkway that would link the site to Watson Park on the other side of Quincy Avenue. This could be done by suspending the walkway under the Quincy Avenue bridge.

Gamble said he hopes to present some plans based on these suggestions at a follow up meeting in May.

Anyone who would like to make suggestions for the property can call Gamble at 617-292-9912 or e-mail Planning and Community Development Director Christine Stickney at CStickney@braintreema.gov.

Fred Hanson may be reached at fhanson@ledger.com.

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