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Community Corner

Wakefield Chamber of Commerce Favors Garage

The Board of Directors of the Wakefield Area Chamber of Commerce has voted to support the proposed parking garage in downtown Wakefield, citing the longstanding need for additional parking to help revitalize the downtown area.    

            The proposed garage project would be built as part of an assisted living facility that is slated to be built by Brightview Senior Living on land fronting Crescent Street as well as adjacent land owned by The Savings Bank, Wakefield Co-operative Bank and the Town. The first floor of the garage would be accessed via Main Street; the second floor would be accessed via Crescent Street.

            “We feel this is a once in a lifetime opportunity which is in the best interest of the residents and the business community,” Wakefield Area Chamber of Commerce co-Presidents Suzanne Bowering and Cheryl Carroll said on behalf of the Board. “The Chamber has actively participated in a number of parking study committees since 1990, all of which have recommended a parking garage in the downtown area. This is an opportunity to address an issue that has been detrimental to the businesses in the downtown area.”

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The project has also received the unanimous approval of the Wakefield Board of Selectmen, Finance Committee and Directors of both banks. Zoning articles necessary to facilitate the project were also unanimously approved by the Planning Board after a public hearing. The parking garage will contain 75 parking spaces which will be available to the public, without charge, at all times. The remaining spaces will be used by the assisted living facility, as well as The Savings Bank and Wakefield Co-operative Bank who will use the spaces during business hours. The latter spaces will open up a total of 123 parking spaces to the public during non-business hours, weekends and holidays.

             The project also received support in the form of a Town Meeting vote on February 6th that authorized the Town to transfer ownership of a piece of town-owned land behind the Wakefield Co-operative Bank to the assisted living facility and the garage. The Town would lease spaces in the garage. Following the vote, opponents filed a petition that led to the upcoming referendum election on April 1st.

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            “While we respect the views and concerns of the opponents, we believe that the garage is in the best interest of the community, the downtown merchants, businesses, and the local economy,” the co-Presidents continued. “The Chamber Board is excited about this parking garage project and what it will bring to the Town. The Board has placed its trust, and the trust of its membership, in our elected officials and voters to do what is best for the community.”

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