I guess I’m the spokesperson

Well, many residents have mentioned they don't like the direction the Town of Norwood is heading. Too much development and not enough "stopping to smell the roses," as one resident put it. Time to take a break from development. Anyway, some said they will not communicate with Town Officials because of "retribution," so why are they telling me? Because apparently, they know I will. As names are never mentioned, only the issues are, so here goes.

The name "economic development" has changed the mindset of Town Officials to favor developers "big time," and some Town residents feel that Planning, Zoning, Conservation Boards  etc. are not providing them with the support they seek and need. Home owners vote, renters do not;; however, homeowners are not being taken seriously. Moreover,residents said they were spoken to in a "condescending" manner by a Town Official..

Out-of-town developers have come here, bought property behind the scenes, and have clear cut important woods in town, which will cause undue stormwater runoff to residents living in nearby homes. See, the forest at Prospect Street across from the Oldham School to make room for housing (the owner moved to Maine and sold the property to an out-of-town developer), Upland Woods, trees cut down to make room for a large apartment complex. See also, the woods at 596 Providence Providence Highway cut down for an overflow parking lot for the open lot storage of unregistered vehicles by another out-of-town developer (this should have been exempted from the BPHD). These developers come to Norwood because they cannot get their projects approved in their own bucolic towns, so they  come here with the knowledge they can.

It is thought by some that after being at Town Meeting and others seeing it on TV, the Town has so much money it really doesn't know what to do with it all and is spending it only because it has it.

Several opinion polls have been taken by Norwood residents, the most recent one being for the Town's Comprehensive Plan. Conservation and Open Space have been at the top of the list but apparently, local Boards have not taken this into account. One resident even called Norwood "cement city." While the government remains a representative Town Government, the aesthetic looks are not in keeping with a small town like Norwood. (Only 10.54 square miles in size with a population at the last census in 2020 of 30,611, but in 2025 that increased to 32,028. Surrounding towns are larger in size but are fewer in population.) People come to Norwood because they like it, but then for some reason want to change it. Look at the lights at Washington, Fulton and Upland. Do they belong in the city of Boston or what? Will it change the flow of traffic or slow things down?

Unless a concerted effort is made to bring about "economic development" and the beautification of the Boston Providence Highway (what is going on at the building at the  corner of Pleasant and Route 1, which has been empty for years?), as well as the completion of the Norwood Hospital, many Norwood residents feel because those are not taken care of, Town Officials are going after them. Perhaps a "Marketing Plan" can develop Norwood Center into a mecca for restaurants, to be on Phantom Gourmet or Guy Fieri's Diners, Drive-ins and Dives. Already, it seems the Ward and South Norwood are making a resurgence. There should be no increase in height for additional housing, but there should be rehabilitation by owners in conjunction with the Beautification of the Washington Street Corridor, from one end of town to the other. How about hiring a landscape architect specifically to do this?

Anyway, these are a few ideas that have been mentioned and were written down. It is hoped that the Board of Selectmen will have an open discussion at one of their future meetings. Thank you for the opportunity to address these important issues to you. Appreciate it.

Advertisement

Judith Howard

TMM - 3