My View
VOTE YES ON ARTICLE 3
By Brian Chadwick
Tomorrow night, a special town meeting will be held to consider three property articles. Article 3 is a request to purchase 10 and 12 Washington Street. This property was better known as Island Spirits liquor store and gas station. The current planned use for this property would be as a transportation hub for the NRTA.

Since 1995 the NRTA has expanded from a 100- day operating system on two (2) fixed routes utilizing four (4) buses to an over 140-day operating system on 9 fixed routes utilizing 13 buses. The proposed use of this property will take seven (7) buses from Washington Street and Salem Street and centrally locate this service to one location. NRTA bus service on Broad Street will not be affected. The net result of such a move would be significant.

Currently, NRTA service utilizes valuable onstreet parking spread over two blocks. Relocating NRTA bus service would open valuable in-town parking and lessen congestion in the area of Main, Salem and Washington Streets. Further, small businesses affected by current bus parking will be more accessible and the Gardiner building compass rose will be open to view.

The purchase of this property provides a unique opportunity for the Town of Nantucket to take a proactive approach in addressing existing and longterm needs in our downtown area. These include traffic, transportation, business opportunities, housing and infrastructure. 10 and 12 Washington Street may also play an important part in the redevelopment of the old electric generation plant owned by National Grid and will allow more options to both the town and the ultimate developers of this property. Currently, the area of Washington Street, Candle Street, and Old South Wharf to Main Street is a gateway for many visitors and deserves careful long-term planning.

The Board of Selectmen, Nantucket Planning and Economic Commission and the Planning Board, as well as the NRTA, have reviewed and endorsed conceptual plans which include the utilization of 10 and

12 Washington Street. I