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October 25, 2007

Most at meeting about central waterfront want more green, less parking

Stephen Tait

NEWBURYPORT — The Newburyport Redevelopment Authority last night unveiled a conceptual layout for the central waterfront that would decrease the current parking area by 43 percent and increase park area by 64 percent.

But many of the more than 80 people at the meeting at City Hall said the 240 spots that would remain on the waterfront are still far too many.

“It should be more green and less black,” Jack Van Loan said. “This is public area. This is all our area. I think it should be for the benefit of us all. Parking seems a waste of public area.”

The conceptual layout, which NRA officials said is not a proposal or a plan but a starting point for conversation, would cut the parking spaces from 420 to 240 on the land that is called the “dirt lots” on either side of Market Landing Park.

Many of the city’s elected leaders, including Mayor John Moak and City Councilors James Shanley, Bruce Vogel and Larry McCavitt, attended the meeting. It also drew many seeking election, including mayoral candidate Jim Stiles and at-large councilor candidate Mary Carrier, who were the only candidates in contested races who spoke.

Stiles said he thought the layout offered too much parking and not enough park. He also said having most of the parking in the west lot, farther away from downtown, does not bode well for the city.

“It puts the parking where it is of the least value for the city,” he said.

Mary Haslinger said there are few spots in the city with public access to the waterfront, and the NRA must make every attempt to ensure the central waterfront remains open.

“I think not to make that waterfront mostly green lacks vision,” she said. “You can put parking anywhere.”

At times, the frustration in the crowd grew, with passionate speeches about what should and should not be done, bringing up decades of dealings with the waterfront and even Stephen Karp, who owns almost all of the private land surrounding the NRA land.

Many of the people said that after many decades of talking about the waterfront, something needs to be done.

“We’re trying to engage you,” said Nat Norton, chairman of the NRA. “I sense the frustration in many of your voices. We are moving forward. The train has left the building. It’s not if we are going to do something; it’s what are we going to do.”

The objective of the meeting, Norton said, was to gather ideas from residents about what should be included in the park. And many ideas were proposed at the meeting. The NRA handed out maps of the layout and index cards for residents to make suggestions.

Ideas included shelters for getting out of the elements, public gardens, small performance areas, historic markers, a pavilion, a cafe and many others.

Sheila Ehrens said she wants a central waterfront that would cater year-round to Newburyporters and visitors to rid the downtown district of its “isolated” feeling during the winter months. She supported Carrier’s idea to build a skating rink.

“It’s about creating small, little areas that feel intimate,” she said.

At the end of the meeting, residents were all given small, round stickers to apply to large posters on the wall to “vote” for what elements they wanted and what would not be appropriate. They were also given small blue stickers to “vote” on whether the parking balance was a good balance, needed more park or needed more parking.

About half of the people voted that there was too much parking. But at least four voted there was too much park and several voted it was a good balance.

The most popular vote-getters in what should be included were an expansion of the main lawn, recognition of the city’s history, restrooms and connection to a bike path. The most unpopular ideas included a tot-lot, a playground and a senior center, which received the most stickers under “inappropriate.”

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