The Inner Loop East demolition and infill was a result of the City offering for sale five parcels, from the Strong Museum on the west, and east to the Union St. ramps for Inner Loop North, which remains in use. Five years later, in 2021 all the parcels were built, resulting in about 450 rental apartments, each with a mix of units affordable to different income cohorts. There was no allocation for open space, playgrounds, or a park.
The last of the apartment buildings to be built, “270 On East” included a 21,000 sq ft (150 x 160’ more or less) portion east of the five story apartment building, bounded by Charlotte St., Pitkin St. and N. Union St. This was designated on the plans approved by the Warren administration included the legend “Day Care Center” on this portion of the site. No plans were ever filed. A deed was issued in 2016 stating that construction was to be in accordance with approved plans and specs. In 2020 the Warren administration approved deletion of a day care center, and substituted a two-story commercial building and 39 car parking lot. No plans were ever filed. There was no public notice of this request, and no hearings were held.
The Deed to the developer had a reversion clause, indicating that if construction had not started by October 2021, the City could file a “reversion deed,” returning the purchase price to the developer and reclaiming the land. This deed was available to read on the County real property website. In June 2021 Rick McGrath (GPA Treasurer) noticed it, and brought it to our attention. Having just been elected to a two year term as President of the Grove Place Association, I made this fact known to the nearby residents I was acquainted with. Organized by a nearby townhouse owner, Linda Reilly, a petition was prepared requesting that the city take back the site, and consider creating a park. By this time, there had been several observations in letters to the editor about the glaring omission of any greenspace in the midst of a quarter mile long veritable wall of 4 and 5 story apartment houses, which the City proudly points to as a success in building up a strong resident base for downtown. .
Petitions with over 340 signatures were obtained at the “Ugly Duck” coffee shop across Pitkin Street from the parcel, and presented to the Mayor and Council. The petition cited the improper procedure of the prior administration that allowed this situation to occur, and the fact that several hundred new housing units, many occupied by families, with children, and a large number of retirees, deserved to have park space. We photographed teens from those apartments playing ball in the street. The greenspace would be readily available to all the new residents, as N and S Union Street was reconstructed using best practices of urban design, with tree lined bicycle lanes and sidewalk, separated from a two lane roadway by parking.
In November, 2021, the City recorded a deed taking back the parcel, and under the leadership of Commissioner Dana Miller, had the unsightly construction fencing removed, and together with Commissioner Rich Perrin, and with the support of Mary Lupien, City Council Member for this area, started wheels in motion to place topsoil, and plant grass.
Mayor Evans wrote to the Association on March 7 2023, acknowledging the Association advocacy to improve our neighborhood, and also setting forth the terms of this newly created greenspace. Because this was not part of the City budget for parks, and Council had not approved expenditures for a park, this action is to be considered “temporary.” That means that the City would be open to consider a request by a developer. That process requires public input before the Planning Commission, and approval by City Council of sale of City owned land. At those meetings, the Association and neighbors will have an opportunity to make the case for making the site a permanent park.
We can safely speculate that such an appeal could be successful if the use of the site had been a benefit to the downtown East End neighborhood. That takes us to the present, summer of 2023, while the grass gets established, to determine how neighbors and the Grove Place Association can assure that the site will properly serve its intended purpose and is not misused. A committee of volunteers interested in making a plan, which will include how we can assist the City with maintenance, cleanliness, and programming activities that will be a benefit to the neighbors, the East End at Downtown, and the City at large. Contact our volunteer committee at EastEndGreen@groveplace.org
If you wish to participate! The site is monitored daily.
Richard Rosen, June 1 2023