Posts

Showing posts from October, 2021

Enfield Square Redevelopment: What Enfield Could Have Asked For—And Didn’t

Image
The town approved millions in public support—without tying the deal to walkability, entertainment, or shared spaces residents said they wanted. Proposed project presented to Town Council last year. The Target store is to the right rear. Redeveloping Enfield Square is critical. Once our downtown—a hub of activity and identity—the mall is now a shell of its former self. In public comments and a survey of over 1,000 people, residents voiced a clear desire for the redevelopment: not just retail, but gathering places—entertainment venues, a movie theater, live music, family-friendly spaces, and walkability. Yet on June 2, when Enfield had the most leverage, the Town Council approved a generous package of financial incentives without securing any binding commitments to many of those community goals. Progress, But Not Vision   For sure, the town is taking steps to address the problems at Enfield Square.  The developer, Woodsonia Acquisitions, will redevelop the site into a mix of hou...
Post a Comment
Read more

Felician Sisters housing plan for Enfield is needed

Image
  The Felician Sisters have proposed converting their Enfield Street convent into housing. They will create about 334 units, a mix of senior and family housing, in a combination of affordable and market-rate units. This convent has been on Enfield Street for nearly 90 years. Through the Catholic schools, the nuns have educated thousands of the town’s children and have helped our town in more ways than anyone can imagine. They have been a great blessing. But their numbers have declined from 400 to 24, and this complex is too large to support. The housing plan creates a sense of “community,” a goal of the Felician Sisters. This non-profit project will have a community kitchen and other shared spaces. It represents a continuation of their ministry and mission and will be a huge benefit to this town, but it has a chance of being denied by the Enfield Planning and Zoning Commission. It needs a zone change to support the housing density. At a recent hearing, commissioners seemed to be as...
Post a Comment
Read more