School’s conversion to condos meeting testy in Swampscott

SWAMPSCOTT – Attorneys Ken Shutzer and William DiMento rose from their seats to argue the significance of continuing the struggle by Greenwood Avenue neighbors against the 41-unit condominium project Fisherman’s Watch in a special Planning Board meeting Monday night.In the meeting over three hours, the developer’s team, led by Architect Jim Velleco, made a presentation with computer-generated visual aids to show board members how parking spaces and materials used in the project would match the character of the neighborhood. Despite over an hour of presentation, the many residents who made up a majority of the 40-plus in attendance demanded the project be reduced.In response to Shutzer pointing to how the Temple Israel development by Charing Cross Realty Trust was reduced from 19 to 14 units earlier this summer, DiMento said, “This is a filibuster is what it is. This had nothing to do with Charing Cross. He knows nothing about Charing Cross.”Shutzer, rising from his seat to show documents to the board, said, “Oh, you’re going to tell me what I know.””The law is the law,” said DiMento, to which Shutzer responded, “The law is the law according to you Mr. DiMento.”DiMento said, “You’re already suing the town with this foolish suit, we can’t discuss this forever and this has to end.”Several audience members yelled back, “No, it doesn’t!” as Chairman Patrick Jones banged the gavel calling for order.In response to the neighbors asking for reductions, Jones said since Town Meeting members already approved the project for 41 units and it was the right of the developers to continue with a project of that size. “My hands are tied,” he said. “That ship has sailed.”Greenwood Avenue resident Ellie Miller said, “Maybe the ship has sailed, but the building hasn’t been knocked down yet. There’s still a chance we could come to a resolution for the neighborhood.”Developer Tom Groom said he didn’t want to be “villainized,” but that he couldn’t afford to build just a few single-family homes after the $1,000,000 cost of demolishing the old school on the property.Planning Board member Sylvia Belkin said the proposed selling price of the individual units was too high at $450,000. She said, as a realtor, the average selling price for a Swampscott condominium unit was $180,000.”I wouldn’t be doing this if they were going to sell for $199,000,” said Groom. DiMento added that Swampscott needed the tax revenue from the units for town projects like the proposed elementary school. “The money has to come from somewhere,” he said. “We’re doing it by building this cash cow.”At the conclusion of the meeting the board voted 4-1 to allow the developer to continue to move ahead with the project provided he adhere to more adjustments with the site plan. Belkin was the lone no vote.Kait Taylor can be reached at [email protected].