Your Local News & Sports Online in 6 Languages! Scan & Subscribe Now! Vol. 34, No.5 -FREEwww.advocatenews.net Free Every Friday Proposed mixed-use, affordable building to replace dilapidated Lee’s Trailer Park on Revere Beach Pkwy Special to Th e Advocate A proposed redevelopment project at 418 Revere Beach Pkwy. will bring modern housing and transformative neighborhood improvements to an area long blighted by the dilapidated Lee’s Trailer Park. Local development fi rm HelgeGansett plans to create a mixed use, 250-unit residential building, provide the fi rst privately funded aff ordable housing opportunity ever in the history of Revere and contribute signifi - cant fi nancial support for the creation of a community arts center in Beachmont. The project, which was presented to the Revere City Council this past week, will create a beautiful seven-story mixeduse building with 250 residential units, featuring a mix of 38 studios, 106 one-bedrooms and 106 two-bedroom apartments. Of these living spaces, 25 units, or 10 percent, will be affordable housing. This is historic as it is Revere’s fi rst fully privately funded project ever to include an aff ordable housing compoPARKWAY | SEE Page 6 781-286-8500 Friday, February 2, 2024 School Committee votes to build new high school at Wonderland site Outcome of lawsuit could possibly raise price tag of construction By Barbara Taormina T he City Council voted 10-1 to build the new Revere Shown above is the artist’s rendering of the seven-story mixed-use building with 250 residential units — a mix of 38 studios, 106 one-bedroom and 106 two-bedroom apartments located at 418 Revere Beach Parkway. (Courtesy of Helge-Gansett/Pratt Renderings) High School at the former Wonderland Dog Track site, giving the plan the triple approval of the school building committee, the School Committee and the council — required by the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) — ending more than a year of contentious and emotional debate. Councillor-atLarge Anthony Zambuto was the lone vote against the plan to build at Wonderland. Zambuto stuck with his longheld opinion that building at Wonderland as supposed to the current site would be a critical fi scal mistake in taking the (Wonderland) parcel off of the city’s tax rolls. Zambuto waged an 11th hour information campaign outlining the loss of revenue Revere would suffer. “I was fighting for the taxpayer,” Zambuto told the crowd packed into the City Council Chambers. “I think my facts are correct but at this point, now that the school is going to Wonderland, I’ve got to hope that I’m wrong. I don’t want to have to tell you ‘I told you so’ because the consequences are dire. I still feel that way, but I respect my colleagues. I was always for a new high school — we just had a diff erence of opinion on taking the property off the tax rolls to build it. The bottom line is we move forward from here and we do what’s right.” Other councillors also took the opportunity to explain their votes to the community. “My main concern was to make sure taxpayers wouldn’t be consumed by this project,” said Ward 1 Councillor Joanne McKenna in explaining why she had previously voted against Wonderland. “I COMMITTEE | SEE Page 3 Revere High girls’ basketball team run winning streak to 11-5 record, secure spot in tournament By Dom Nicastro T he Revere High School girls’ basketball team keeps delivering good news. That’s what happens when you win a lot. The Patriots qualifi ed for the tournament over the past week and stand at 11-5 overall. The team has won four straight games. And some more good news. Revere’s five seniors — Bella Stamatopolous, Haley Belloise, Rocio Gonzalez, Julianna Bolton and Alisha Jean — will be honored Thursday, Feb. 1 against Everett on Senior Night. That victory came in the form of a 50-30 decision over Greater Lowell Tech, a non-conference tilt. On the strength of fi ve steals apiece from Shayna Smith and Belloise, Revere got its 11th win of the season. Belma Velic led the way with 15 points and eight rebounds. Smith added 10 points and 9 rebounds. “We’ve had a solid eff ort from our starters the last couple of games,” Revere fi rst-year coach Ariana Rivera said. “Belma Velic stepping up more on the boards and her outside game. Rocio Gonzalez coming off the bench with some great minutes and being an asset on the off ensive end for us. Collectively, we’ve found our rhythm on off ense the past few games. Defensively, we’ve upped our tempo and have been able to fi nd success in our length and urgency for the basketball.” Earlier, on the strength of 17 steals and 16 assists as a team, Revere moved within one game of being tournament-eligible when they beat Chelsea, 61-23, SPORTS | SEE Page 12 TOURNEY-BOUND: Lady Patriot Belma Velic is shown battling a Chelsea defender during a recent GBL matchup. (Advocate photo by Emily Harney)
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