SELECT BOARD TO HIRE DESIGN ENGINEERING FIRM FOR “DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION PROJECT” BOONDOGGLE

According to its 19 January 2022 Agenda– https://www.sterling-ma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif1266/f/agendas/2022_1_19_agenda3.pdf — the Sterling Select Board will be hiring either Weston & Sampson– https://www.westonandsampson.com/ — or WorldTech Engineering– https://www.worldtechengineering.com/ –as design engineers for their pet “Downtown Revitalization Project,” whatever that may be. YOUR TAX DOLLARS AT WORK, AGAIN! Considering the lack of parking places downtown, Sterling’s ‘Downtown’ is actually quite vital already, don’t ya think?

Since private property lines much of Main Street in Sterling Center on both sides, there is a limit to what these geniuses can accomplish without taking private property by “eminent domain” to reconfigure whatever it is that they may want to reconfigure. Taking private property by “eminent domain”–also known as “condemnation proceedings”– is expensive, not to mention arbitrary and unfair to the owner(s).

“Revitalizing” Sterling Center really comes down to three words–PARKING AND WALKING. The Town of Sterling owns the Memorial Park behind the Fire Station and more than 13 acres of open, ledgy land behind the Sterling Municipal Building. Let’s see if Sterling’s Townspeople are willing to put a parking lot or parking garage on either one of those parcels. Place your bets now!

In the meantime, watch YOUR tax dollars circle and then disappear down the drain on this “Downtown Revitalization” BOONDOGGLE.

UPDATE, 20 January 2022: Here are the vaunted “Sterling Town Center Design Guidelines”– https://www.sterling-ma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif1266/f/news/20210630_sterling_town_center_design_guidelines_final.pdf

Other than requiring the mitigation of legitimate public health hazards or code violations, Sterling officials can’t require downtown private property owners to spend a dime on cosmetic or structural building changes. I don’t think those geniuses understand that.

J.G.