Community discusses Glendon closure
City councilman Jack Weiss met with concerned Westwood business owners Thursday to discuss the possible yearlong closure of Glendon Avenue to accommodate a development project.
The project, proposed by Casden Properties, would be a $100 million residential and retail facility, located at Glendon and Tiverton avenues.
Developers’ plans to close Glendon Avenue during construction of a subterranean parking structure could be devastating to business owners with store fronts on Glendon.
The merchants in attendance at the meeting, all of whom operate small family-owned businesses, expressed their belief that Glendon should not be closed for a single day.
“Everyone was in unison,” said Marcus Rosner, who owns three stores on Glendon and has done business there for 40 years.
Casden executives have said the parking lot could be built without a street closure, but at a higher cost to the company.
“We shouldn’t be the sacrificial lambs of a developer,” Rosner said.
The merchants believe that Weiss understands their position on the issue, but remain unsure of how it will be resolved.
Casden Properties’ right to close Glendon has been approved by two city committees, but still must be ratified by two higher bodies.
One of these is the three-person Planning and Land Use Management Committee, of which Weiss is a member. The committee must approve the plans before developers can proceed to city council, where a final decision will be made.
Though Weiss demonstrated solidarity with community groups that sought a scaled-down design for the building at earlier hearings, he has been more reticent on behalf of the business community.
About 7,200 cars each day pass through the stretch of Glendon that could be closed.
Aside from the disadvantages that a street closure would pose to businesses located on Glendon Avenue, it would also dramatically increase traffic on other streets in Westwood.
Charlotte Chastanet, who owns Muriel Chastanet Jewelry Shop on Glendon, said the meeting was a positive step, but said the merchants agree they should not have to defend their right to keep a public space open in the first place.
“We feel like we’re up against the big developer,” she said.
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