From: 	Justina Marcisso <jmarcisso1@yahoo.com>
To:	"hcd@portlandmaine.gov" <hcd@portlandmaine.gov>
CC:	Matt Thayer <mthayer777@gmail.com>, Gary Marcisso <gmarcisso@yahoo.com>, Margaret Hazlett <mhazlett@fandm.edu>, "lindholm@maine.edu" <lindholm@maine.edu>
Date: 	2/3/2016 11:34 AM
Subject: 	65 Munjoy Street

Good morning, I'm writing to you as a concerned home owner of Munjoy Hill, specifically the neighborhood surrounding the proposed 65 Munjoy Street project. I'm co-owner of 3 buildings on Vesper street, across from the phase 1 Adams Reuse project. Not only do I own property, I'm 3rd generation to that neighborhood with families growing up on the corner of Munjoy and Monument, Vesper and Moody, and Wilson street to name a few. It feels like only yesterday we were going before city hall strongly voicing our concerns about the intentions for the Adams School reuse project. During which time, we gathered a committee of new and old "hill" blood to stand as a platform for our neighbors with the attempt to preserve the dignity of our little peninsula. 

It's safe to say we were pacified by phase 1, ascetically speaking. It has NOT impacted parking as we had been concerned about, however, the construction process was horrendous to say the least, the contaminants alone that were airborne over that year span was an issue that were visible to the naked eye. I can only imagine what we were breathing in. 

The playground was a big save, we were all happy (especially my toddler at the time) to see that stay, however the mound of "roped off new grass seed" in the phase 2 lot was always in the back of our heads..."let's plant grass on a landfill" as a solution to remediation is absurd, not to mention contradicting to the "plan".

That all aside, we as a community know that the highest bidder wins over popular demand of the locals, however, it needs to be said, aired, written, documented, what have you. 

Take a look around, when you drive down these streets there is a personality, a theme that stems back to the blue collar tradesmen of the time that these houses were built...for instance..the stained glass framed window accent you see on a good number of houses throughout the hill, that's character, that is a piece of history that you come to appreciate being a resident..you see it and you know that one man made a living putting that feature on the houses back in the day. You see the pitched roof line, you see the little man doors going into the cellar ways, you see the old rock lines that were built instead of iron fences, you see cobble stone "if you're lucky" poking up through the pavement...this is history, not a featured blueprint in Maine Magazine but it's what makes up this area of our city, you have to keep that in mind when building up in the middle of these neighborhoods. A 3-story, flat roof building belongs on the prom, belongs on congress, belongs on certain areas of this island, but not here. We're a brick walk way, unique but comparable siding, friendly and inviting neighborhood and we stand pretty firm on what we can live with and what just doesn't belong. You can be sophisticated and "affordable" without destroying the integrity of our community. 

We want safe work zones, and a lot more consideration given on how to contain the mess that comes with tearing up the toxic underground that we know lies beneath that property. 

All it really comes to is allowing the ones directly affected by the project to be part of the planning instead of being notified of a hearing that will ultimately explain what is going to happen without input or consideration by the immediate neighborhood. 

Thank you for your time 

Justina Marcisso-Hussey Portland Yacht Services/Events 100 West Commercial St Portland, Maine 04101 207-774-1067 p 207-774-7035 f justina@portlandyacht.comjmarcisso1@yahoo.com