Re: “Unholy Plan? Proposal to Convert Church Property to Apartments Stuns South End Parish”

It is very encouraging to see development of market rate housing in Burlington. Perhaps new, young residents in close proximity to St. Anthony's will have a positive effect on parish attendance. It will surely create some obstacles related to traffic and parking, but these are surmountable and can be addressed through the design review process. It would be great to see parking move underground and have the developer fund a logical traffic flow that utilizes the main thoroughfares already in place instead of pushing traffic on to streets less equipped to handle increased volume, such as Ferguson Ave. Along with the recent positive momentum of development on Pine Street, this project has the potential to add to the re-invigoration of Burlington. Granted, if this becomes a sink hole for taxpayer funded subsidized housing projects that negatively impact the neighborhood, it would be a negative outcome. Burlington can't afford to lose young professionals and families to the suburbs if it has any hope of building and sustaining a middle class tax base. The majority of downtown is overrun with college slums leaving precious few neighborhoods in the city where young professionals and young families can afford to live in peace and quiet. It is clear that older residents of this neighborhood are passionate about it, and that is great. This development seems like it would provide a great opportunity for some of these folks to downsize and stay in the neighborhood they love so much while transitioning the South End to the next generation.