1938-06-24 - Laserfiche WebLink

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178 BOARD OF APPEALS MEETING JUNE 24th, 1938. A meeting of the Board of Appeals was held in the Selectmen's Room, Town Office Building, at 8:00 P.M. Chairman Maddison and Messrs. Robbins, Ferguson, Glynn and Driscoll were present. The Secretary was also present. At 8:00 P.M. hearing was declared open upon the appli- cation of Lila Lawrence O'Keefe for permission to maintain a private hospital and sanatorium for convalescing and retarded children at 905 Mass. Ave., Lexington. The notice of the hearing was read by the Clerk, Mr. Robbins. Mrs. O'Keefe stated that she wanted to maintain a hospital at this location. She said she intended to have ten patients, sometimes more. The patients are from two months to ten Years of age. Sometimes the children cry, but even normal children cry. The Chairman asked how many children she had now, and she said that she had seven, and the oldest is seven years of age. Mr. Glynn asked what she called "retarded" children, and she said that two-thirds of them were mental cases, and some were paralyzed. The Chairman asked how long she had been at the Barnes estate, and she replied that she had been there one year, or would be on August 1st. No other persons wished to be recorded in favor of the granting of the petition.. Mr. Eugene Kraetzer of 46 Hancock Street said that he did not live in the vicinity of the property in question, but was interested in the prosperity and welfare of the town. He thought that an institution of this sort was a thing that we did not want in Lexington; he thought it would lead to something greater, whereby if another hospital wanted to come into the Town, the Board would not have as strong a point to refuse it. He thought that if a hospital were allowed there,it would devalue the property in that section very much. People have purchased their homes there, and if the time should come when they wanted to sell their property, it would be difficult to do so with this hospital there. He thought that the people in this neighborhood would have very great cause to request the Board of Assessors for a decrease in their valuations. He thought this would be a detriment to the neighborhood. He thought the hospital should be located in an outlying district. The Chairman said that a letter had been received from Mr. George Nicholson, Jr., and one from Mr. Allan H. Kennedy, opposing the granting of the petition. Mr. Nelson Bowers said he represented the Arlington Five Cents Savings Bank, owner of the property at 912 Mass. Avenue. This matter was discussed at a meeting, and the members of the Board decided that this sanatorium, if located there, would tend to devaluate the property in that section 0.1 Pad 1