To the Editor:

Is Altamont a historic village? I believe most people who live in the village would say yes.

There remain here many thoughtful and concerned citizens, people who have endeavored to support and encourage an attitude of appreciation for our past.

The prior mayor, Jim Gaughan, consistently made significant contributions in this effort.

One of his major appointments was Marijo Dougherty, a talented, professional archivist who sparked a new recognition and understanding of famous spaces, places, and people that revealed our unique place in history over several hundred years.

Keith Lee co-authored the history-of-the-village book — an insightful and professionally written summary of places, buildings, and homes, in “Images of America, Altamont.”

The Quasquicentennial, “Remembrance,” with Warren Roberts, PhD. and with Ron Ginsburg photography and essays by Keith Lee, further supported our unique architectural heritage.

These are important published pieces add to the archives of numerous village exhibits and collections of the village history.

One of the most accomplished storehouses of historic Altamont still remains you, our home and business owners, concerned citizens with an awareness of the fragility of small-town life.

Great pains, cost, and interest have gone into preserving our properties to make Altamont worthy of  historic preservation, and the quality of life we are looking for, for ourselves and for generations to come.

The flower gardens and parks tended with love make this village a beautiful place to live.

Residents enjoy a Victorian Holiday, music in the park, church day schools and community dinners, school bus in the park, the Firemen’s Ball, The Tri-County Fair, Scottish Games, and many others

The Home Front Café is a nationally recognized repository of our local heroes and their wartime experiences.

Our small owner-based businesses believe that Altamont is a special place to call home, and work to be part of our village life, choosing to serving the needs of the local community.

Our village is recognized by the National Registry of Historic Places with the Altamont Free Library. That didn’t happen by chance. Concerned citizens have fought unnecessary commercialism for many years.

All these efforts show that the historic village is ready for the final designation of, “Altamont, a Historic Village.” 

The village is now in a debate so critical to small towns that have preserved their heritage, that all of our attention needs to be focused with urgency on the necessity of preserving our past on the way forward toward a better place to live now and as we go forward.

Stewart’s convenience store and gas station is requesting to tear down a 120-year-old Victorian residence by extending its commercial property into a residential-zoned neighborhood.

This is not an easy choice as Stewart’s has served the village well and patrons want to keep this convenient asset to the village. Supporting Stewart’s is a natural choice for its long-time customers.

The move into the neighborhood residence and destroying the 120-year-old Victorian home may seem like an acceptable decision by the village board.

However, this move sets the precedent that any other similar request has the potential to demand similar treatment to push into a residential neighborhood. Once done, it is far more difficult to defend a similar request by a developer who can claim discrimination. 

Enlarging the building can be done on the existing lot. As long as the redesign doesn’t push the presence toward the current massive placement we see on Route 20.

While not discussed, the current lot is poorly utilized. After discussions with knowledgeable architects, I see ample room to enlarge the building, improve traffic flow, and leave a more desirable footprint for the village. This can add a couple of parking spots, the same number with the larger lot, using a more efficient design.

This avoids a massive parking lot on the most visible intersection of the village. All current guidelines for village preservation restrict massive parking lots and light pollution as a deterrent to village integrity, a well-known concept taught by the Harvard Graduate School of Design, we have been advised, which can affect the integrity of the entire block, and so the neighborhood.

So what is the reason for the push? Regardless of the concern expressed by a large number of village residents, the push for commercialism at the expense of the community persists.

This is in addition to the fact that Stewart’s has said, with or without the historic Victorian house, it will stay in Altamont.

 I repeat. Stewart’s announced at the recent board meeting it is not leaving Altamont.

Given this statement, why is Stewart’s still pushing the tear-down?

There is only one reason: Stewart’s doesn’t want to close the present store while it constructs the new one. This recognizes that moving the pumps will require closing.

As a major business. Stewart’s wants to maximize its income. This may well be perceived as asking the buyers to pay the sellers for part of the construction. Even a limited closure is asking the buyer for their acceptance of a massive parking lot, the precedent of a commercial zone moving into a residential neighborhood with a footprint in the village that is a negative imprint and precedent for Historic Altamont.

Remember Joni Mitchell sang, They paved paradise and they put up a parking lot.”

Why can’t there be a thoughtful compromise by accepting a larger new building, improving the ease of traffic and a new appropriate building for a short closing period?

It seems like a win for each side, a compromise that recognizes the contribution of Stewart’s to the village and protects and respects Historic Altamont for today and tomorrow.

Thomas Sands

Altamont