Yes, Lincoln has been very, very good for CIVICO, in spite of their protestations. And, it would seem their project was fast-tracker, AND made it through Town Meeting. Given the outcome, I am having trouble understanding their current posture.
On another matter-for gut check, I urge all to drive through Lincoln, Lincoln Station area, then go to Concord’s main commercial center, and on to Weston, and finally to Lexington. Play close attention to the feel of each-how does it look, how does it feel, what is attractive about it-take note. Perhaps someone can take photos and post them. Then go to Newtonville and the intersection of Walnut and Washington Ave. Note the size of buildings, proximity to road, the look the feel. My observation is that what is currently being proposed is more similar to this intersection in Newtonville than either of our 3 neighbors We need to approach this with eyes wide open. Let’s hit the pause button and let there be more reflection, modeling of what the maximum might look like in each subdistrict, lot by lot (not examples of what is already built) , discussion (town-wide), debate-let it be heated, but civil. We will all benefit if we take this route-engage more-engage us all together so we can hear each other out. Celebrate this kind of democracy. Let us be proud of the debate and the outcome-that will be a worthy legacy. ------ Sara Mattes > On Oct 14, 2023, at 1:01 PM, Scott Clary <[email protected]> wrote: > > Hello Ruth Ann, > > All those tasks/costs you mentioned are typical and expected with > development. Factoring all expenses, including acquisition cost and not being > privvy to any actual data other than the acquisition cost of 2.1 million, I > estimate on the high end, a cost for 60 units would be $350 per square foot > to develop Oriole Landing (which I'm guesstimating an average of 1,000 square > feet per). I could certainly live quite well and take the town out nightly > for a handful of years with a 10 million dollar profit on a short term > investment. As Cathy O'Brien pointed out, 9 months for approval. Having a > general contractor's license and a real estate license, I'd be elated with > those numbers. > > It's time for a reality check. > > With such an immensely impactful, pending change to our town, we have more > time (March town meeting and then another 9 months to submit our choice to > the state) and need it for more evaluation and input from a very capable > citizen base - please, let's all be transparent with full disclosure and let > the townspeople and the two-thirds majority town meeting process be paramount > with all due respect, as I have always known in my family's short 25 years > residing in this unique, humble little town. > > We moved here based on my appreciation as a little boy driving back and forth > through Lincoln from Stow to my previous hometown of Brookline - the giant > trees so close to the road and open land caught my attention and I'd say to > my mom, "this place really cares about their trees" - and I finally ended up > living here. > > Let's move forward and make progress but with carefulness and sound > evaluation. It appears that we are trying to be tactfully driven to one of > three options, option C, which could lead to by right, many three story > buildings containing hundreds of units in and around Lincoln Station. > > There are other viable options to be heard meeting the guidelines of the HCA > without MASSIVE redevelopment/ changes to our town center - there are a lot > of smart people in this town - please give them a chance to be involved > and then let the PEOPLE decide. This has always been the Lincoln WAY. > > Kind Regards, > > Scott Clary > 617-968-5769 > > Sent from a mobile device - please excuse typos and errors > > On Fri, Oct 13, 2023, 6:58 PM RAandBOB <[email protected] > <mailto:[email protected]>> wrote: >> Yes, but how many hours did they spend attending Neighborhood meetings and >> town board meetings and reconfiguring the site according to the board >> requirements and then building all these Leeds-Certified units, developing >> water and septic infrastructure, parking, lots and access roads, >> refurbishing the existing house. I don’t know the answer to that question >> but the net profit is not anywhere near the gross profit. >> >> Ruth Ann >> (She, her, hers) >> >>> On Oct 13, 2023, at 6:21 PM, Scott Clary <[email protected] >>> <mailto:[email protected]>> wrote: >>> >>> >>> That is correct sarah. 32 million was for the developed project. And the >>> landowner only sold for 2.1 if I recall. That's a pretty good return. >>> >>> Kind Regards, >>> >>> Scott Clary >>> 617-968-5769 >>> >>> Sent from a mobile device - please excuse typos and errors >>> >>> On Fri, Oct 13, 2023, 2:26 PM ٍSarah Postlethwait <[email protected] >>> <mailto:[email protected]>> wrote: >>>> Robert >>>> >>>> “That is $32 million split three ways. And for this prime in-town >>>> location, I’m guessing the selling price would be even higher.” >>>> >>>> Just to clarify- the property owners only got 2 million and some change >>>> for their property. It honestly was likely undervalued since it was almost >>>> 6 acres in Lincoln. >>>> >>>> civico then developed it and sold it for $32 million. That profit (likely >>>> around $10 million) went into civico’s pocket- not the previous property >>>> owners. >>>> >>>> Sarah >>>> >>>> On Tue, Oct 10, 2023 at 6:59 PM Robert Ahlert <[email protected] >>>> <mailto:[email protected]>> wrote: >>>>> The 6 acres for Oriole Landing sold for $32 million. >>>>> >>>>> I believe two 30 unit buildings could be put on the corner of Lincoln >>>>> Road and Codman Road as well. Look at the septic/wastewater system they >>>>> designed for Cold Brook, it does not take much physical space. >>>>> >>>>> That is $32 million split three ways. And for this prime in-town >>>>> location, I’m guessing the selling price would be even higher. >>>>> >>>>> That’s $10 million each for those property owners. Don’t you think that >>>>> would be incentive enough to get together and sell as a group? >>>>> >>>>> Maybe they will hold out, maybe they won’t. >>>>> >>>>> Rob >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> On Tue, Oct 10, 2023 at 6:49 PM Karla Gravis <[email protected] >>>>> <mailto:[email protected]>> wrote: >>>>>> In response to the question of whether developers are knocking on our >>>>>> door, Lincoln’s own RLF has been working with a developer, Civico, on a >>>>>> 125-unit building in the mall area (slide 26 of the SOTT deck). Civico >>>>>> is the same developer that built Oriole Landing. >>>>>> >>>>>> It is very important to note that under the proposal, village center >>>>>> rezoning will allow developers to build simply by getting a building >>>>>> permit with no need to go to town meeting (slide 9 of the SOTT deck). >>>>>> >>>>>> Given that the Chair and the Executive Director of the RLF sit on the >>>>>> HCA working group, and that the RLF will benefit from the development, >>>>>> it’s reasonable to expect that this project will quickly follow any >>>>>> rezoning. >>>>>> >>>>>> The HCA allows for only 10% affordable housing, so we will end up with >>>>>> ~13 affordable units and 112 units at Oriole Landing prices (which seem >>>>>> to start at $4K per month). >>>>>> >>>>>> It’s naive to think that more developers will not follow Civico once we >>>>>> rezone. Existing Lincoln parcel owners will have a material financial >>>>>> incentive to sell to developers. >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> On Tue, Oct 10, 2023 at 5:19 PM Susanna Szeto <[email protected] >>>>>>> <mailto:[email protected]>> wrote: >>>>>>>> If we look around town, the multi-family we have in town now are most >>>>>>>> tucked away. They do not hit you in the face as the proposal to the >>>>>>>> development on Codman Road. I doubt it will achieve the economic >>>>>>>> diversity people are looking for if the rent is as high as the Oriole >>>>>>>> Landing! I hope we can pause and study how the rezoning will affect >>>>>>>> the traffic in town before we jump into this! I have read on Lincoln >>>>>>>> Talk the developer is already knocking on our doorstep! Is that true? >>>>>>>> Susanna S >>>>>>>> Giles Road >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> On Oct 10, 2023, at 5:06 PM, Margaret Olson <[email protected] >>>>>>>>> <mailto:[email protected]>> wrote: >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> Greg, >>>>>>>>> Conservation restrictions apply irrespective of zoning. The >>>>>>>>> conservation restrictions on Codman and Drumlin (and elsewhere in >>>>>>>>> town, including areas around South Lincoln) prevent those areas from >>>>>>>>> being developed. State law makes it extremely difficult to remove >>>>>>>>> land from conservation - it has to be replaced with equally valuable >>>>>>>>> land. >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> Margaret >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> Margaret >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> On Tue, Oct 10, 2023 at 5:00 PM Greg H. <[email protected] >>>>>>>>> <mailto:[email protected]>> wrote: >>>>>>>>>> All, >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> Thank you to everyone on the housing committee for your service. I'd >>>>>>>>>> like to respectfully add my $0.02 from the peanut gallery in support >>>>>>>>>> of a pause / step back in rezoning plans. >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> It seems to me that there are three distinct philosophies/options we >>>>>>>>>> could pursue, but that we are fully focused on #3. >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> Options >>>>>>>>>> 1. Drag our feet and/or consider noncompliance: favor Lincoln's >>>>>>>>>> rural character above all else >>>>>>>>>> 2. Comply in letter but not fully in spirit: where possible, overlay >>>>>>>>>> new zoning on existing multi-family and/or commercial development to >>>>>>>>>> mitigate the impact >>>>>>>>>> 3. Wholeheartedly comply in both letter and spirit: build as much >>>>>>>>>> new housing as possible near the commuter rail >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> I understand that many believe we have a moral responsibility to >>>>>>>>>> build more housing in Lincoln (and while I disagree, I respect that >>>>>>>>>> view) but I believe as stewards we also have a moral responsibility >>>>>>>>>> to maintain as much "green" as possible and to preserve the rural >>>>>>>>>> character of our town for future generations. I'm especially >>>>>>>>>> concerned that creating a Cold Brook Crossing on Codman Rd will both >>>>>>>>>> a) unnecessarily cut down a lot of trees, and b) materially change >>>>>>>>>> Codman Farm, Drumlin Farm, and the rest of South Lincoln, forever. >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> I support increasing Lincoln's diversity (including economic >>>>>>>>>> diversity), and I realize that #3 might help us achieve that, but >>>>>>>>>> this feels like a very big step that we might come to regret. I >>>>>>>>>> think Lincoln is special precisely because it is undeveloped - I'm >>>>>>>>>> not sure we can have it both ways. >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> Thank you for reading, >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> Greg Haines >>>>>>>>>> 41 Lincoln Rd >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> (As an aside, I'm also not sure I'm prepared for the additional >>>>>>>>>> traffic the development will spur. Traffic is already backed up >>>>>>>>>> almost a mile on Lincoln Rd on Tuesday mornings; I assume we will >>>>>>>>>> need to add traffic lights or rotaries at Lincoln Center and Lincoln >>>>>>>>>> Station?) >>>>>>>>>> -- >>>>>>>>>> The LincolnTalk mailing list. >>>>>>>>>> To post, send mail to [email protected] >>>>>>>>>> <mailto:[email protected]>. >>>>>>>>>> Browse the archives at >>>>>>>>>> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/. >>>>>>>>>> Change your subscription settings at >>>>>>>>>> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. >>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> -- >>>>>>>>> The LincolnTalk mailing list. >>>>>>>>> To post, send mail to [email protected] >>>>>>>>> <mailto:[email protected]>. >>>>>>>>> Browse the archives at >>>>>>>>> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/. >>>>>>>>> Change your subscription settings at >>>>>>>>> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. >>>>>> >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>> -- >>>>>>> The LincolnTalk mailing list. >>>>>>> To post, send mail to [email protected] >>>>>>> <mailto:[email protected]>. >>>>>>> Browse the archives at >>>>>>> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/. >>>>>>> Change your subscription settings at >>>>>>> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. >>>>>>> >>>>>> -- >>>>>> The LincolnTalk mailing list. >>>>>> To post, send mail to [email protected] >>>>>> <mailto:[email protected]>. >>>>>> Browse the archives at >>>>>> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/. >>>>>> Change your subscription settings at >>>>>> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. >>>>>> >>>>> -- >>>>> The LincolnTalk mailing list. >>>>> To post, send mail to [email protected] >>>>> <mailto:[email protected]>. >>>>> Browse the archives at >>>>> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/. >>>>> Change your subscription settings at >>>>> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. >>>>> >>>> -- >>>> The LincolnTalk mailing list. >>>> To post, send mail to [email protected] >>>> <mailto:[email protected]>. >>>> Browse the archives at https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/. >>>> Change your subscription settings at >>>> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. >>>> >>> -- >>> The LincolnTalk mailing list. >>> To post, send mail to [email protected] >>> <mailto:[email protected]>. >>> Browse the archives at https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/. >>> Change your subscription settings at >>> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. >>> > -- > The LincolnTalk mailing list. > To post, send mail to [email protected]. > Browse the archives at https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/. > Change your subscription settings at > https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. >
-- The LincolnTalk mailing list. To post, send mail to [email protected]. Browse the archives at https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/. Change your subscription settings at https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln.
