Friday, May 8, 2009
The Turnip Truck Has Left Shea Boulevard
In response to the video and article dated May 7, 2009 in the Patriot Ledger by Jack Encarnacao regarding the Southfield Project in Weymouth.
Dear Mr. Encarnacao,
I’ve read many of your articles. I’ve written this commentary, more in response to the ineptitude at Southfield than to your interview style. Maybe you don’t want to be the next Dan Rather. The Editorial in the Ledger a couple of weeks back addressed some serious issues which could have been better addressed in your article. Instead we got to see a nice video of people giggling over $75 million that’s been spent with no return on investment.
You should have asked, "Do you know where Shea Boulevard is?" Yes, the Shea Boulevard that LNR has beautified for $75 million. I know if I spent that kind of money on something I’d at least remember its name. But let’s not go there (because it doesn’t go anywhere). So yes Jack, when do we ask the tough questions? You almost did. You almost asked “How many tenants do you actually have signed up RIGHT NOW?” Oh wait, let’s edit that part out.
Okay, okay, you’re only the messenger, I get it. I also get that LNR is using the Patriot Ledger to spread some nice, nice fuzzy news to everyone that they’re gonna “stick by the plan”, by golly, even if it means they have to spend another…oh wait, yes, and wait some more, until poof, like a smoke and mirror show, they’re gone.
Hey you construction guys, sitting at the table, you ever hear “don’t piss down my back and tell me it’s raining”. Guess what? The Master Plan needs to be tweaked. The road you built with the nice expensive lights and the bike path, need to have some businesses on them. Yes, honest to goodness, hard working, tax-paying tenants, businesses and workers. The housing market is DEAD. Build all the houses you want and nobody will come.
The Air Station closed over 10 years ago and you haven’t earned a nickel on that beautiful piece of property. That dog won’t hunt. Change the focus and get some money coming in. There’s no way a movie studio is going to spend $250 million; and there’s no way an access roadway from Route 3 will be built; and there’s no way a water pipeline through Braintree will be constructed; on land that has a bunch of old broken down buildings on it. And the federal government is not going to hand over any more land to a developer, or an oversight committee with no money, that has not generated income for 10 years.
If things are bad, then reassess the situation, but don’t keep pretending that everything is okay until it’s too late. LNR has hinted at scaling back, they’ve threatened to scale back, so, SCALE BACK. Put up a damn building, will ya, please. If it’s cooked, eat it!
Geez Jack, come on, ask the tough questions.
POSTED BY STAN at May 8, 2009
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