City councilman Jack Weiss met with concerned Westwood business
owners Thursday to discuss the possible yearlong closure of Glendon
Avenue to accommodate a development project.
The project, proposed by Casden Properties, would be a $100
million residential and retail facility, located at Glendon and
Tiverton avenues.
Developers’ plans to close Glendon Avenue during
construction of a subterranean parking structure could be
devastating to business owners with store fronts on Glendon.
The merchants in attendance at the meeting, all of whom operate
small family-owned businesses, expressed their belief that Glendon
should not be closed for a single day.
“Everyone was in unison,” said Marcus Rosner, who
owns three stores on Glendon and has done business there for 40
years.
Casden executives have said the parking lot could be built
without a street closure, but at a higher cost to the company.
“We shouldn’t be the sacrificial lambs of a
developer,” Rosner said.
The merchants believe that Weiss understands their position on
the issue, but remain unsure of how it will be resolved.
Casden Properties’ right to close Glendon has been
approved by two city committees, but still must be ratified by two
higher bodies.
One of these is the three-person Planning and Land Use
Management Committee, of which Weiss is a member. The committee
must approve the plans before developers can proceed to city
council, where a final decision will be made.
Though Weiss demonstrated solidarity with community groups that
sought a scaled-down design for the building at earlier hearings,
he has been more reticent on behalf of the business community.
About 7,200 cars each day pass through the stretch of Glendon
that could be closed.
Aside from the disadvantages that a street closure would pose to
businesses located on Glendon Avenue, it would also dramatically
increase traffic on other streets in Westwood.
Charlotte Chastanet, who owns Muriel Chastanet Jewelry Shop on
Glendon, said the meeting was a positive step, but said the
merchants agree they should not have to defend their right to keep
a public space open in the first place.
“We feel like we’re up against the big
developer,” she said.