SEAFOOD/MEAT PROCESSING COMPANY WANTS TO RELOCATE TO ADMIRALS HILL

This January the Chelsea Record reported on a story that the City of Chelsea was working toward relocating a seafood processing plant to the 100 Justin Drive location on Admirals Hill.  This building was previously the home of Signature Bread which has been closed for many years.  Members of the community are concerned about the possibilities of negative effects on the residents, property values and businesses in the area.   Communication was established with City Manager Fidel Maltez and brief conversations with two city councilors.  A community meeting via zoom was scheduled and held on February 26th where 62 residents and business leaders participated in a conversation with our city manager, the owner of the property and owner of Boston Provisions.   It was noted that the city quietly changed the zoning in that area to permit a seafood operation without notifying any of the abutters or residents.  The tone of the meeting was overwhelmingly against the opening of this type of business so close to the Admirals Hill neighborhood and Mary O’Malley State Park, Chelsea’s largest green space.

The City Manager and the owner of the business tried to paint a picture how wonderful the business would be for the community, that 50 people that have to work in the Seaport district would be working closer to their homes, that business could grow and employ up to 300 people, and bring more much needed revenue to the city (no dollar figure was mentioned).

However, the residents of Admirals’ Hill and Mary O’Malley Park lovers are deeply concerned and do not want such type of business in the neighborhood. There are far more negatives points than positive.

1.       The smell will never be controlled: roughly 3000 people will have to endure the smell of fish in the neighborhood every single day. Everyone that uses Mary O’Malley Park will have to inhale the fish smell disrupting their leisure time.

2.       Traffic and congestion: the intersection of Commandants Way and Williams Street is already saturated with all the trucks that go to the produce center and oil refineries. Now imagine more trucks.

3.       Damage to roads from trucks and tractors: who is going to pay for that damage? Will it be the company alone or will our precious tax money be used for that?

4.       Dripping fish water from refrigerated trucks and garbage will attract all kinds of seabirds and rodents, more disease hazard in addition to the pollution from the businesses across the river.

5.       Our property value will be affected because no one wants to live next to a fish facility and all the listed hazards.

Now is time to act. We can’t let the business get the required permits to operate at our precious Admirals Hill! Please voice your concern: No fish facility is welcome at Admirals Hill! Please contact City Manager Fidel Maltez at FMaltez@chelseama.gov and John DePriest @ JDePriest@chelseama.gov from Permitting and Zoning Department to say NO to the seafood processing facility at 100 Justin Drive.