As Devens homeowners whose deeds show Harvard and Ayer land, we respectfully request that Harvard petition MassDevelopment to include Devens residents when deciding the fate of Vicksburg Square. We’re not sure why MassDevelopment’s latest version of Vicksburg Square zoning changes is being presented to the Harvard Affordable Housing Trust at the same time as a presentation to Devens residents, Monday, April 8, at 7 pm. Is there a reason that Devens residents should not be able to attend both meetings? In addition, we find it odd that the Harvard public hearing for Vicksburg Square zoning changes is being held during the school vacation week, while some of us are away on vacation.
Devens residents very much enjoy where they live, and many are horrified to hear the plans of creating overly dense micro apartments of 300 units that would somehow accommodate parking for 300-600 cars. Creating a massive parking lot in a former green space is not a historic preservation act. The proposed addition of 300 units also significantly increases the number of households as renters. The housing cap at Devens is currently 282 units, including the ones that have not been built as part of the new Emerson Green development. In addition to this original cap, there have already been 120 units of senior housing approved in the Shirley section of Devens.
There is a belief that the Vicksburg Square buildings still have good bones, but there has been some deterioration. A highly dense housing project does not address disposition or sustainability. Neither Ayer nor Harvard would want an albatross of dense and unsustainable housing in their town center.
Please help us to request a better option from MassDevelopment and work harder to propose a solution that both Ayer and Harvard, as well as neighboring towns, would be proud to have as a permanent part of their community.
Laura Scolnick-Guilmette and Rob Guilmette, Walnut Street, Devens
Bob and Kathy Benshimol, Auman Street, Devens
