HomeMy WebLinkAboutPublic Comment - Michael Ronayne - Concerns with massive project - 11.10.2026 - Correspondence - 0 Prescott Street 11/10/2026 Subject: Concerns Regarding the Proposed Massive Housing Development at 0 Prescott Street
(the East Mill Parking Garage), North Andover
Dear North Andover Zoning Board of Appeals,
My name is Michael Ronayne and I live at 24 Prescott Street, North Andover, which is directly
across the street from the site proposed for the new giant apartment complex in Machine Shop
Village. I have serious concerns about the impact of this project on my own home and the
community as a whole. Therefore, I am writing to you to express my passionate disapproval of
this project, as well as my wide-ranging list of concerns. I sincerely ask you to reject this
extremely disruptive project.
When I purchased my home in June of 2024, 1 knew it would require a great deal of work and
investment to fix it up properly. Despite that, I chose it wholeheartedly because it was located in
a community that I deeply wanted to be a part of. Machine Shop Village is a unique and historic
part of North Andover — one that has maintained its small-town character, walkability, and
sense of community for generations.The scale and density of a massive new housing
development could significantly alter that character. The residential buildings would not only be
inconsistent with the existing pattern of development in the village, they would alter the
village's "small-town", mill-village identity, overshadowing older buildings, and undercutting the
historic ambiance of the neighborhood.This could reduce the distinctiveness of the area and
harm its historic value and aesthetic.
The proposed development, totaling 296 residential units, would dramatically increase the
number of residents and vehicles in the area. Such a surge would place tremendous strain on
local infrastructure and threaten the quality of life for both current and future residents.
Prescott Street and High Street, both one-lane roads regulated by stop signs, may not be
sufficient to handle this increase in traffic. Thus, introducing hundreds of additional vehicles
would almost certainly lead to congestion, frustration, and gridlock—conditions that would alter
the character of the neighborhood from calm and welcoming to hectic and stressful. Commute
times for residents would surely lengthen and these conditions would also impede emergency
vehicle access, delaying response times and creating serious safety risks for the community.The
new flow of traffic would bring an unavoidable increase in noise levels, disrupting the peace and
quiet that residents currently enjoy.
For existing residents, the proposed housing development would bring a very dramatic and
unsettling change to the neighborhood's character and livability. The enormous developments
would block sunlight, reduce privacy, and replace open views and green space with towering
structures and constant activity. What is now a peaceful area could quickly feel crowded and
overbuilt, with more noise from tenants, shared spaces, and constant movement in and around
the property. The loss of quiet and open space would erode the sense of calm and familiarity
that residents currently enjoy, undermining the neighborhood's small-scale charm. While there
are already apartment complexes in the broader area, those developments are set back from
the main roads and do not intrude on the open, inviting feel of the Mills downtown area. This
proposed project, by contrast, would sit prominently within view—directly altering the visual
character and sense of openness that define the neighborhood.
I also have valid concerns about the potential impact on property values.The introduction of a
large, high-density rental complex could change perceptions of the area's stability and
desirability, particularly for those living in nearby single-family homes. The risk of declining
marketability remains real and certainly cannot be dismissed.
In addition, the development would place new demands on local public services—such as water
and electricity usage, schools, parks, waste disposal, and mail delivery. More families in the area
would inevitably mean increased strain on these systems, potentially reducing the quality and
availability of services for everyone. The added population would also heighten wear on roads
and public spaces, and the rise in rental turnover could weaken the sense of community
cohesion that long-time residents have worked hard to preserve.
Compounding these long-term impacts is the unavoidable disruption that would come from the
development's actual construction.There would be heavy machinery, dust, debris, and constant
noise that would plague nearby residents, making daily life stressful and unpleasant. Access to
streets and sidewalks could be limited, while vibrations, dirt, and construction traffic would
create persistent disturbances. The construction phase alone would strip away much of the
peace and comfort that current residents now enjoy, before the effects of the completed
development are even felt.
The existing apartment complexes of RCG LLC — namely the "East Mills" and "West Mills"
buildings in the Mills downtown area — do at least retain their historic brick-and-beam look,
which makes them less visually intrusive than the proposed new development. However, the
reviews from tenants indicate a variety of persistent problems. While marketing materials
emphasize high ceilings, oversized windows and loft-style finishes, some tenants note that
management responsiveness is weak, that noise from neighboring units or commercial uses
penetrates thin walls, and that parking or access issues persist. The overall tenant sentiment—
as visible on review platforms such as the one for the East Mills building on ApartmentRatings
(see the site at apartmentratings.com and search "East Mills, North Andover") — suggests that
while residents appreciate the location and aesthetic, they frequently report: delays in
maintenance, occasional cleanliness or common-area oversight issues, and a turnover of
occupants that undermines a sense of long-term stability. On ApartmentRatings, East Mills
currently holds a 2.6/5-star rating, reflecting these ongoing concerns. Given these known
shortcomings in the existing RCG-managed properties, the proposed larger development could
easily replicate those issues on a much larger scale. I urge you to look at the actual reviews
yourself at https://www.apartentratins.co / a/north-andover/east- ills_617284216401845/and
consider what those existing problems mean for what might come.
On a personal level, this proposed development strikes at the heart of what brought me to this
community and what I have worked so hard to create. Over the past year and a half, I have
worked tirelessly to rebuild my home and shape it into exactly the space I envisioned—a
sanctuary in a neighborhood I chose for its privacy, charm, and connection to the historic Mills
downtown. If this development proceeds, I will lose the privacy I value, the view of the
downtown and wooded areas that I enjoy from my new front porch, and the simple
convenience of being a five-minute drive from the train for work. My carefully cultivated sense
of familiarity with my neighbors and the quiet, peaceful character of this community will be
replaced with the constant presence of the new buildings, increased noise, and a sense of urban
density that I specifically sought to avoid. Having grown up near the city, I moved here to find
relief from it—this development would effectively drop the city into our neighborhood,
fundamentally changing the environment I worked so hard to make my dream home. Had I
known this project would be proposed, I would not have purchased this house or devoted the
last year and a half to making it my own. I suspect that many others in the community share this
same sentiment; in fact, this development could deter future residents just as it would have
deterred me had I known about it.
I urge you to reconsider the current plans and to engage with local residents in a transparent
dialogue before moving forward. Development that respects the village's history, scale, and
environment will be far more welcome and sustainable in the long run.
Thank you for taking the time to consider the perspective of those of us who live in and care
deeply about this community. I would appreciate an opportunity to discuss these concerns
further and to better understand your vision for the site.
Sincerely,
24 Prescott Street
North Andover, MA
(781) 475-6885
michaelaronaynel@gmaii.com