THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, APRIL 9, 2021 Page 21 RESHAPING | FROM PAGE 8 ing them back to see whether we can get some interest in the Cliftondale area….That would be a huge incentive. If we could get a business to come in there, I think that’s a great incentive. Precinct 2 Town Meeting Member Peter A. Rossetti, Jr., who also chairs the Planning Board: He has lived in Cliftondale 70 years. The Saugus native has been involved in the town’s political issues for a half century. Through the Massachusetts Industrial Financing Agency, he and his father received CARD designation, enabling them to obtain funding to build their insurance building. “There’s very little incentive for landlords to do anything because if they do things, then they have to bring things into ADA [Americans with Disabilities Act] conformance, which can be a major expense, and in some cases, just not possible.” He noted other issues, like parking. There is actually suffi cient parking, like the church parking lot, but they are not accessible, he said. “At one point, we had a potential plan to open up all of the spaces behind the buildings and connect the different parking lots. But that idea never got through the town.” If the town is considering a restaurant, the ideal situation is to eliminate the small, single-story cinder block buildings, take a large area and create a three-or-fourstory building with stores and restaurants on the fi rst fl oor and apartments above. The potential for apartments is enhanced because the area is on a bus line, according to Rossetti. He noted that the Overlook Ridge apartment community is about a mile down the road from Cliftondale – about 3,000 units – which provides housing for many potential clients and customers of Cliftondale businesses. Precinct 1 Town Meeting Member Sue Palomba: She has lived in Saugus for 21 years – 17 years in Cliftondale. She talked about seeing a woman get hit by a car in Cliftondale because of the dangerous traffi c conditions. “I would like to see some sort of sign or light system” in the area near the Saugus Post Offi ce. She would like to see a speed limit sign placed in the area. She noted that North Shore Bank has two vacant buildings with parking in the back. She said the town really needs senior living apartments for residents who are no longer able to live in their homes. Precinct 2 Town Meeting Member Christopher P. Riley: He is the husband of Selectman Riley. “If you go back 30 to 40 years – Cliftondale’s heyday, so to speak – the things that were the big draw in Cliftondale, they’re not big draws anymore. Churches don’t have near the draw that they used to. That’s a big part of Cliftondale. The Post Offi ce has become increasingly irrelevant in recent years. Even the banks. We’ve lost two banks in the past year...Cliftondale was built for a diff erent time.” He noted that the space of buildings is limited to the point where there is nothing available to accommodate “a decent-sized restaurant.” And the problem is growing worse, he said. But Cliftondale is still “an appealing location.” Riley said he would love to see the two vacant bank buildings and the parking lot behind them go to one owner who would develop it for something useful in RESHAPING | SEE PAGE 22 FRANK’S Housepainting (781) 289-0698 • Exterior • Ceiling Dr. • Power Wash • Paper Removal • Carpentry FREE ESTIMATES — Fully Insured Office/Commercial Space for Lease “Proper prep makes all the difference” – F. Ferrera • Interior 3 Large rooms, each with walk-in storage area. Ideal for Law Office or Aerobics Studio. Like new condition. Second floor elevator direct to unit. Seperate entrances - New Baths - Large Parking Area. On MBTA Bus Route #429. Located on Route 1 South at Walnut Street. Rollerworld Plaza Rte. 1 South 425 Broadway Saugus Call Michelle at: 781-233-9507
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