Residents Protest South Norwood Condos-July 16, 1986

On a balmy July evening, residents gathered at the zoning board of appeal to voice their concerns over a proposed condominium development in South Norwood. The project, spearheaded by developer Anthony T. Civitarese Jr., aimed to construct a 20-unit building on Washington Street, mere steps from the Walpole line.

As the meeting commenced, town meeting member William Phipps took center stage, his voice laced with urgency and frustration. “The quality of life is substandard,” he declared, echoing the sentiments of many in attendance. “We had 50 calls to the DPW last year about backed-up sewage, when is it going to stop? Do we have to get a moratorium on building?” Phipps’ words struck a chord with the crowd, as residents shared their own tales of woe regarding the area’s infrastructure.

The proposed development was not an isolated incident; rather, it was part of a larger trend of growth in South Norwood. The town’s skyrocketing property values had created a perfect storm for developers to capitalize on the area’s potential. According to County Home Data, the median value of Norwood houses rose from $88,238 in 1984 to $134,750 in 1985, with no signs of slowing down.

The Civitarese family, owners of the site since 1968, had initially planned to rebuild their gas station after it was destroyed by fire two years prior. However, they soon realized that a more lucrative opportunity lay before them – constructing a condominium project on the same site. To make this vision a reality, Civitarese would need to obtain special permits and variances from the zoning board.

Under Norwood’s present zoning bylaws, a 20-unit building requires 60,000 square feet of land. The proposed development, however, would occupy only 28,500 square feet – a significant reduction in space. “If we saw on the news that people in South Africa or Afghanistan had to live with sewage pouring into their homes, we’d say stop it, it’s deplorable,” Phipps continued. “But we’re letting it happen in South Norwood. We can’t condemn the people of the area any more with further building.”

The board decided to tour the site on Saturday and await a report from Town Engineer Walter Ryan regarding the sewer lines’ potential impact. The proposed building would feature 12 two-bedroom units, eight single-bedroom units, and two attic units, all nestled within three floors. The structure’s height of 32 feet would be three feet higher than its nearest neighbor.

As the meeting drew to a close, only one resident, Town Meeting member Helen Donohue, spoke in favor of the project. “If this project isn’t allowed, then a gas station will probably return to the site,” she said. “This is a lot better than underground fuel tanks, more traffic, and tow truck noise.” Civitarese’s lawyer, Roger Ferris, echoed Donohue’s sentiments, emphasizing that a residential development would be more aesthetically pleasing and less hazardous than a commercial one.

The debate surrounding the proposed condominiums in South Norwood served as a microcosm for the larger issues plaguing the area. As residents continued to grapple with the consequences of unchecked growth, it remained to be seen whether their voices would be heard or ignored by those in power.

Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger