Editor:

A prominent Cape Cod real estate broker recently said that the multi-family rental market appears to be reaching a saturation point. When he predicts there will soon be more rental units than there are renters, he’s speaking of Hyannis. 

But in towns like Harwich, just a few miles away, multi-family units would surely have to compete with an overabundance of available units in Hyannis. At the Pine Oaks 4 development, it’s proposed that 75 to 80 percent of the units would rent at or near fair-market value. Competing with the growing surplus nearby, the Harwich units could well become un-rentable. Continuing to build multi-family developments will create even more unneeded units. And it’s not a good or wise thing for a town like Harwich to support creating multi-family rental units that could become un-rentable. 

Multi-story developments violate our zoning regulations and our traditional aesthetic. How can this kind of over-building possibly benefit our town? 

Paula Myles
North Harwich

Editor:

The Nauset Interfaith Association and the MLK Breakfast Committee would like to thank all of the local businesses who generously donated funds or food to support our annual MLK breakfast. Due to their generosity, we were able to provide a delightful morning meal to the 169 people from across the Nauset area who were in attendance.

Thank you to Ace Hardware, Eastham; Dunkin Donuts, Route 137, Harwich; Dunkin Donuts, Route 124, Harwich Port; Eastham Superette; Friend’s Market, Orleans; Hot Chocolate Sparrow, Orleans; Orleans Whole Foods; PB Boulangerie, Wellfleet; Shaw’s, Harwich Port; Stop and Shop, Chatham-Harwich Road, Harwich; and Stop and Shop, Orleans.

The MLK Breakfast Committee
Nauset Interfaith Association

Editor:

The Chatham Affordable Housing Trust and the select board seem to be engaged in a power struggle. Which board gets the absolute power to decide on affordable housing in Chatham? Recently both boards weighed in on the RFPs for Meetinghouse Road and Main Street affordable housing. Now the affordable housing trust (AHT) wants all the power over Chatham’s affordable housing, basically stating that the select board has nothing to offer and the trust has all the experience and intelligence needed.

The trust seldom seeks outside assistance or expertise. The fact that the trust does not open itself up to others’ expertise and guidance leads it to function in a less than productive manner. The idea that the AHT should have all the decision-making and inferring that the select board has nothing to offer is obtuse.

Let me throw something else into the power mix: the residents living in the community! Where is their power? Why aren’t the RFPs first presented at town meeting for people to choose what they want to see in their community and then have the select board award the contracts? Yes, I know, the RFPs are on the town website, but not everyone goes to the site. More people turn out to town meeting. I also remember that we voted the trust in years ago, but with what we are seeing and hearing now, was that really a wise decision?

We call our board members, we write letters, we go to meetings and are often treated disrespectfully. We work to vote into office people who want to work within Chatham and listen to the people of Chatham. Unfortunately, some constituents and abutters are hiring attorneys for representation in affordable housing issues resulting in major out-of-pocket expenses. Our Chatham officials need to be listening to the people who voted them into office instead of our residents having to hire outside representation only to be heard and understood.

There would be no power struggle if people put their egos aside and worked in conjunction with the townspeople. By doing that we actually might achieve harmony.

Carol Gordon 
South Chatham

Editor:

Duncan Berry's opinion (“Don’t Destroy West Harwich Baptist Church,” Jan. 30) is spot on, as are the facts he wrote about concerning the planned demolition of the West Harwich Baptist Church. And if anybody trusts the highest town authorities to make a correct decision with the residents in mind, not Davenport, there's a tree gone missing over at the Brooks Library that tells you otherwise.

Peter Antonellis
Harwich

Editor:

The parents and grandparents of many area residents and business owners that attended Orleans High School (OHS) are planning an all-alumni reunion this year.

They will be coming in wheelchairs, with walkers or canes, but they will be coming. Members of the classes from 1954 to 1962 will attend. All of them are in their 80s.

Classes from 1960 to 1962 graduated from Nauset Regional High School (NRHS) but attended OHS through 1959, the last graduating class included.

So far, a suitable venue for those 60 or so alumni who can attend and have committed to attending pretty much rules out indoors venues like restaurants or other commercial places where they won’t be able to move around, mingle and renew acquaintances without shouting across tables.

It has been suggested that the most appropriate venue for this group of old people would be the old Orleans High School (now Nauset Regional Middle School) that they attended, and which closed nearly 67 years ago.

With approval by the NRHS school committee, a suitable schedule could be worked out. We will be looking into that.

The purpose of this letter is to try to reach alumni who do not have email addresses and either live in the area or have family or friends who might pass the word along to them.

This may be the last year for some/many to do this. We welcome your input. Please respond to our OHS email address: recollections@orleanshigh.com. Thank You.

Pete Norgeot
OHS Reunion Committee