17C-227 (16) a •
However, a bar and pool hall operating practically 24 hours a day
would not be an asset. There is insufficient parking in Florence
as it is. Our local merchants cannot have their parking spaces
occupied several hours by patrons of The Office. If you are
familiar with The Office in Baystate you would see a dedicated
group of customers there from noon until late in the night .
Where will these people be parking?
Our Association hopes that it has sufficiently explained its position.
We are not trying to be difficult . Florence has already graciously
accepted many boarding houses near the center as well as two bars
located at the Cottage Kitchen and Alexanders . We are greatly
concerned with the center of Florence ' s continual prosperity and
we welcome any proposals that could enhance our town.
Sincerely,
Justin Stone
President
Florence Civic and Business Association
® ® Florence Civic & Business Association, Inc.
® Box 201 r.&-. nac usetts 01060
�i9k "1
OCT 161991
`
September 17 , 1991
Gn behalf of t1,e eniAre Florence Business and Civic Assoc.- ation,
I would like to express our concern regarding recent developjnent �3
within the center o" Florence .
The proposed boarding house on North Maple Street .L of great
concern to our members . We were encouraged to see Courtesy
Taxi move in to part of the building and were expecting the
main structure to be remodeled into a two family apartment , 'c)r
which it is 7cned . Current zoning laws do not permit the
proposed 16 cne roo;,? apartments . The building is too small
to comfortably Louse a large number of people. � is novFe
was always used as a private residence with a ;:,z,;;iness
attached .
As you kno.; tho Florence Mercantile strc,,;((;ly feels ;:'r,r..t., tl-,,e
1>��ildir:.r he used as a pri-x;-ate residence ;:r to house F•_.i
additioual bu-;i.nes,s i.hat would enhance the center
When ',fir . ;'inci decided tc allow any number, oE men t; rr- i de in
his house there were many disturbances reT)oi: (=d to the' police .
The porch was more often than not a scene of men fighting ,
drinking and heckling passers by. This vac -?f particular-
concern to the ma'ay elderly living in two nearby housing
pioects . Our Association has unanimously voted to oppose
a boarding house on the premises .
We are also opposes; to The Office expandinc i '-.s business into
the Ross Brothers buildiiig . Particularly if there is a
boarding house next door. William Nagle Sr . also feels that
a pool hall and bur would adversely ef-f ect, hil s work with
recovering substance abusers .
The Association un6erstands the need far t1.0 Ross brotier. s to
find a tenant as quickly as possible du` t'r- financial cor,t-e ns .
We would like to make clear that we welcc,ne another merchant
into the center . In .fact, Florence needs ro_re merchant-. , a
shoe store or five and dire would greatly ?: anca the town .