I am a citizen of Waterville. From a neighbor’s point of view, here are some of my concerns about the proposal of rezoning and transforming the Sacred Heart Church building, rectory and church office into a multi-faceted, commercial events center (“Late-night gatherings raise concerns over proposed events center at former Waterville church.” This would, all of a sudden, change the personality and quality of our quiet, residential neighborhood.

The church building allows for 300 guests, and the parking lot, 100 to 110 cars. Ideas mentioned thus far in the Morning Sentinel for potential activities are weddings, musical events, comedy shows, craft fairs, birthday parties, baby showers, receptions, conferences, retirement celebrations and any other events that would help the business grow and succeed.

My home on 5 Morrill Ave. is two houses across from the church parking lot on Middle Street. If my sun porch windows are open, I can hear people talking outside.

A Russian proverb says, “Don’t buy the house, buy the neighborhood.” Forty years ago, my husband and I bought our home on Morrill Avenue because we loved the neighborhood’s quietude and tranquility. Mostly only neighbors drive by, and Middle Street has little car flow. The ambience is of birds singing, squirrels chattering, breezes tiptoeing through the majestic, tall trees, the voices of children playing, and neighbors having conversations over their fences. When our four children were young, we were graced with the sound of church bells ringing at noontime, saw parishioners coming and going on Sunday mornings, and the occasional parish events. We felt safe letting our children play and ride their bikes in the church parking lot.

My neighborhood continues to gift me with the silence and solace I was looking for when we bought our home. The church gives it a village-like feel. The prospect of bringing noise pollution and air pollution from automobile traffic, like one accepts from downtown businesses and malls, is a stain on its heartbeat and integrity. If an events center had been here 40 years ago, I would not have bought a home across the street from it.

If this business proposal goes through, it will bring much uncertainty. It will subject us to the open-ended prospect of daily, weekly, small and large crowd events.

Here are a few intrusions I imagine. Other neighbors, who share my mindset, might have other insights.

The potential of 110 cars spewing exhaust and noise as engines are fired up at different points in time at events. Noise of car doors opening and shutting. Car lights shining on and off in the evenings. Bright flood lights on the grounds. Increased automobile traffic on Pleasant Street in front of the church, and in back of the church on Middle Street, where the parking lot is.

Cars parking in front of our homes on neighborhood side streets. Nonstop motor noise from air conditioners, generators and compressors installed on the outside buildings, such as what you hear when you walk outdoors on college campuses. Construction noise from back hoes, cars, trucks and machinery as they tear down, reconstruct, and repair the inside and outside of the church, rectory and office building. (one example being to repair the roof and siding of the church.) Trucks unloading musical band equipment for concerts. Consumption of alcohol and recreational drugs on the premises. Need for police and security guards. Trucks catering food and commodities for on going events.

And possibly the lessening of the real estate value of homes, because it will no longer boast of being a quiet and calm, residential neighborhood.

I want to preserve the serenity of my lovely neighborhood, and am against the prospect of rezoning the Sacred Heart Church Complex into an events center, bringing unimpeded daytime and nighttime movement and noise from automobiles, crowds and commerce.

I am for  preserving this historical structure, but not for the venue proposed.

Linda Gerard DerSimonian is a resident of Waterville.

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