Did anyone attend the QVNA meeting last night or know anything about a new condo high-rise on Columbus Blvd near Catharine? Does it look like it'll be approved? I don't understand the logic for it, since the housing market is bad & the last thing we need there is a high-rise. But, since my opinion counts for absolutely nothing , I'm curious about what will happen.

I was there. There are plans for the space that will involve two high rise towers (which are lower than society hill towers). The zoning committee asked for further clarification on some relatively (for the most part) small points at their next meeting. The developers will come back to that meeting.

There were a lot of neighbors from Swanson & Catherine there in support of the project.

did you happen to see any designs for the towers. It would be nice for that area to get developed. Was there any traffic concerns?

Yes, the developers have designs. There is a garage that mainly fronts Columbus Blvd and looks like it will be brick (one item they have to come back on for clarity), there will be some townhouses, some greenspace, no fenced in community, etc. The towers are very modern and reminded me of a jenga game. They just aren't my taste but nobody had any real objections to them. Honestly.

The traffic has been studied by a major traffic engineering firm and the developers are promising some improvements which they claim they'll pay for (big item committee wants clarification on). I know someone else who is a traffic engineer and what they are saying sounds reasonable. One vital key is many neighbors at Swanson and Catherine said the "extra" traffic seemed really minimal to them and they were happy.

To be honest, I went 100% opposed but then listened to probably a half dozen residents from that immediate area talk about how much they wanted this. I changed my mind. Their opinions are really important.

The next meeting will be posted. I think there was a schedule conflict. QVNA will know. the meeting will be open to the public.

I was at that meeting too. Yea, the traffic guy said this would present no problems. But thay are also the same outfit who represents Foxwoods Casino. They say that will present no problems too. As for how it looks, no one protested that because the sheer scale of it is so inappropriate that no one got around to commenting on how hideous it is.

Finally, the architect is totally downplaying the impact that it will have on the rest of Queen Village. It will LOOM over the Front Street Park. His photos show the existihng Dockside Condos as a small speck on the horizon. The new towes will only be 2 x as high as the speck. Go down ther and see if Dockside looks like a speck when you stand at the corner of Front and Pemberton.

I was there too, and like Cline, entered the room in total opposition, mainly due to the increased parking pressures and traffic that a 250+ unit project would bring with it. What changed my mind was the unanimous support for the project from the residents in the immediate area. It was revealed that the current waste land is a magnet for homeless people, drug addicts and prostitutes. We heard stories on drug paraphernalia on door steps, harassment by the squatters, etc. They were actually thrilled about the development, and that turned me around. Although it is technically QV, my personal feeling is that anything on either side of Columbus Blvd is connected more to the waterfront than to QV.

The design was sleek and modern, two irregularly shaped glass towers. I believe they will be a welcome addition to the area.

The only question that I have is who will buy them?? Have to agree with the comment re: glut of new condos.

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