The Arlington Conservation Commission is currently conducting hearings of the proposed Thorndike Place project. This project would have devastating effects on the community and the environment. Please contact the Conservation Commission to voice your concerns via the email below.
CALL TO ACTION!
Contact the Conservation Commission:
📞 (781) 316-3090
📧 concomm@town.arlington.ma.us
Building on Arlington’s Floodplain is a recipe for disaster.
Help us STOP this proposed development and CONSERVE
the Mugar Wetlands for future generations!
THE SITUATION
Oaktree Development LLC and Dinosaur Capital Partners have proposed the development known as Thorndike Place, a 124-unit senior living complex and 6 duplex townhomes along Dorothy Road in East Arlington. Of the 17.7-acre site, only 1.5 acres are not in the FEMA floodplain. You can view the full application on the Town website. Oaktree/Greenline LLC is the development manager on behalf of Arlington Land Realty LLC, a company managed by the Mugar family.
This land abuts Dorothy Road, Edith Street, and Burch Street in East Arlington. All cars going to and from the site would have to travel on Lake Street.
Oaktree Development is using 40B laws to bypass Arlington permitting and zoning requirements.
Oaktree Development’s project is inconsistent with Arlington’s 2015 Master Plan – the same Master Plan that strongly advocates for more affordable housing. For decades the Town of Arlington has been very clear that the Mugar site is not suitable for large-scale development. In 2000 and 2001 Arlington Town Meeting voted to support the conservation of this site.
DEVELOPMENT OF THIS SITE WOULD CAUSE MANY PROBLEMS
- Increased flooding
- Increased traffic congestion on Lake Street, the side streets in East Arlington and the ramps off and onto Route 2
- Increased costs to Arlington
- Degradation of wildlife habitat
FLOODING
The site consists of 17.7 acres. All but 1.5 of these acres are in the FEMA flood zone. The developer proposes building on seven of these acres, including 5.5 acres in the floodplain.
- Floodplains act as a sponge for nearby groundwater and storm water. If this “sponge” is paved over, the floodplain will no longer serve this essential purpose, and the water will flood into East Arlington neighborhoods.
- Thorndike Field complex, one of Arlington’s largest soccer and lacrosse fields, abuts the site and currently has high surface and groundwater. The proposed development will increase water levels and reduce the number of days the field can be used.
- Residents living between Lake Street and Route 2 and between Mass. Ave. and Route 2 know that groundwater flow and absorption is already a big problem. However, Oaktree Development states, “groundwater is not our purview.”
TRAFFIC
All cars exiting and entering the proposed development will arrive via Lake Street, and will travel on narrow neighborhood roads.
Lake Street already has severe traffic backup. At peak commute times now, it can take 35 minutes to exit Route 2 and get to Mass. Ave.
- Hundreds of families already drive, park and walk through this neighborhood to get to Thorndike Field for fall and spring athletic events.
- Adding 300+ cars/day to the neighborhood will increase congestion and travel times and create safety concerns.
INCREASED COSTS TO ARLINGTON
We believe that the increasing the capacity of water and sewer lines to accommodate the needs for 124+ additional residential units will be at the Town’s expense. These are just preliminary thoughts and we will be analyzing the true costs of the project to the Town as there are more details of the project.
DEGRADATION OF WILDLIFE HABITAT
This 17.7-acre wetlands is habitat to a variety of birds and other animals, including turkey, foxes, and deer. This project and the activity of hundreds more people on this site would eliminate one of the few remaining natural areas in Arlington.
Coalition to Save the Mugar Wetlands 