Nazi graffiti removed from walls outside Marblehead Y

MARBLEHEAD – Complaints about anti-Semitic graffiti at the former “Y” building prompted the building’s owner to have the offensive material removed.Attorney Paul Lynch said Wednesday he contacted his client, building owner George Wattendorf, on Wednesday about the graffiti and it has since been removed.Lynch said his client was unaware of the offensive graffiti until a complaint surfaced at Tuesday evening’s Planning Board hearing on the major changes scheduled for the “Y””We found out about it and I know my client’s going to take care of it,” Lynch said early in the day on Wednesday.He said that as long as the building remains vacant it can be vulnerable to this type of behavior. “We’re moving things along as quickly as possible,” he said.The spacious “Y” building is scheduled to be taken down and replaced by a major 17-unit residential and commercial building under the town’s Smart Growth bylaw, including three affordable housing units.The Planning Board has continued its hearing on the proposal to Nov. 9 at the Marblehead Community Center. By that time the planners expect to have an independent review under way.The present building overlooks the town’s Memorial Park, which contains monuments to Marbleheaders who fought in various wars, including World War II. The side of the building that faces the park is not well-lit at present and has been defaced by various graffiti symbols, including swastikas.Susan Fader, the daughter of Holocaust survivors, came to Tuesday night’s Planning Board meeting last night to publicize her previous attempt to get the graffiti cleaned up by complaining to police.She said the graffiti had been there “for weeks” despite her complaint to police, who said they would contact the owner.