Regarding the projected Thames Street development by James Roiter, I suggest that it is a dangerous thing to allow one developer to own too much property within a compact part of the downtown, and it ought to be limited by proximity/adjacency.

For example, allowing a wealthy and aggressive developer to own an entire block allows that developer to eventually intimidate and force businesses that he/she doesn’t like out of the block until he owns it all. Remember, he tried to strong-arm Aidan’s once upon a time and I remember the town meeting where the voice of the citizens of the town so overwhelmingly opposed his brash action that he had to back down.

I recall that he impertinently suggested that the members of the Bristol Town Council were in collusion with the restaurant owner. The people may win once, maybe twice, but wont always win as the developer gains greater ownership (and influence). Although it is probably not possible to limit the amount of property that an outsider eventually owns within a town, the location of those properties is key.

You don’t want outsiders from Manhattan or wherever owning entire blocks in the downtown and forcing native businesses out or into submission. That’s when we lose our town and its unique character for good.

Michael L. Martel

16 Birchwood Drive

Bristol