Two Lawmakers Urge Steamship Authority to Reconsider Terminal Designs

CCB MEDIA PHOTO
The Steamship Authority is planning a third slip at its Woods Hole terminal.

WOODS HOLE – Two state lawmakers are joining local residents in an effort to push the Steamship Authority into reconsidering design plans for the new Woods Hole Terminal.

State Senator Viratio “Vinny” deMacedo (R-Plymouth) and state Representative Dylan Fernandes (D-Woods Hole) penned a letter to Steamship Authority General Manger Robert Davis following a heated public forum earlier this month that saw multiple locals voice their concerns to Davis.

The letter supported the local residents involved in the forum, and requested the Steamship Authority and BIA.studio architects to consider the concerns of locals. The legislators echoed those concerns, claiming that the plans pose environmental concerns, maintenance issues, and would negatively impact the town’s appearance.

“The point that we were trying to make was that there’s an opportunity to work with the community to try to put together a plan that everybody would be happy with,” said deMacedo.

“It’s great that they’re investing in a new terminal, but I think it’s appropriate that they make sure that this terminal is in keeping with the quintessential charm of the Woods Hole terminal. We want the General Manager to know that the community obviously is concerned, and I’m sure they’ve heard that.”

During that forum, area residents said that the new facility would obstruct the view local establishments have of the Crane Street Bridge, something vistas and local restaurants say is critical to attracting customers. Designers claim that the current proposal made the most strategic sense.

Current plans call for a two-story building featuring a glass atrium topping the waiting area. Employee locker rooms, office space, and mechanical equipment would be on the second floor.

Fernandes and deMacedo also urged the Steamship Authority upper-management to work with the Woods Hole Business Association, Woods Hole Community Association, and the Falmouth Historical Commission.

The $60 million project includes an overhaul of three ferry slips and two passenger loading peers, among other waterfront structures; reconstructing the terminal building; and improving the storm water management system.

“These designs are beautiful designs, depending on where they’re at. Cape Cod is different, and we’ve seen this with our highways,” deMacedo added.

“The types of highways that you would have in some areas are different than they types of highways that we have here. To the same extent, the type of buildings that we want here are different than you’ll have in other places. So, we’re asking the Steamship Authority to work and have their architects work with the community to try to make sure that this building is in keeping with the Cape Cod charm that we have here,” he said.

By TIM DUNN, CapeCod.com NewsCenter 

About CapeCod.com NewsCenter

The award-winning CapeCod.com NewsCenter provides the Cape Cod community with a constant, credible source for local news. We are on the job seven days a week.



CapeCod.com
737 West Main Street
Hyannis, MA 02601
Contact Us | Advertise Terms of Use 
Employment and EEO | Privacy