To the Editor:

Growing up in Newtown, I can remember hearing stories from my grandfather and father about how the town has changed over many decades. Where there were farms, now stand large homes, commercial buildings, and tons of light pollution. I cannot believe there is discussion and potential for the Mary Hawley Inn [Inn at Newtown, 19 Main Street] to be demolished and rebuilt into a multi-family complex. Main Street is the heart and focal point of Newtown; a large development does not belong here. If Mary Hawley was here, I think she’d be disappointed that this is even being considered. The Inn was not just a restaurant or place for guests to stay, it was [once] home to Mary Hawley, one of the biggest benefactors in town. Without her, we wouldn’t have the Edmond Town Hall, Hawley School, Ram Pasture, the [Soldiers and Sailors] monument on Main Street, funds to provide care at the Newtown Village Cemetery, and the C.H. Booth Library, along with a trust fund that carried the library for five decades. This is not just an ordinary home or restaurant; this is a historical landmark in a historic district that must be saved.

I’m hopeful that as a community we can come together with a plan to preserve the Inn, as well as the remainder of Main Street. I fear that if one complex is allowed on Main Street, what will stop the construction of more?

I encourage all town residents to be present during the next Borough Zoning Commission (BZC) meeting at Edmond Town Hall on January 8, 2020, at 7 pm. Though this is not a public hearing, I think it is imperative that residents go to show their faces. I invite all who oppose the demolition of the Mary Hawley Inn and new construction of a multi-family complex to wear the color red and sit next to each other. We cannot speak at this meeting, but we can voice our thoughts through a visual portrayal.

Sincerely,

Aaron Nezvesky

13a Phyllis Lane, Newtown December 31, 2019