ADU

From P. A1 and Rossanna Ferrante took the opposite viewpoint. to appreciate how much the learning environment — a roof over their heads, and enough books, pencils, writing pads and other school supplies — influences the quality of children’s education. But 95 million children in subSaharan Africa lack a desk to do their school work.

Nilsson did make a motion to include a provision allowing homeowners to build ADUs by right and for affordable housing. But the motion was not seconded.

“The lack of basic resources like desks holds learners back from achieving even a basic education,” Milner explained.

Then Milner learned about Tutu Desks.

The late Nobel Peace laureate Desmond Tutu founded the Tutu Desk campaign in 2012 in partnership with the United Nations Special Envoy for Education.

Tutu Desks are made from a sturdy, child-friendly blend of polymers and can last a learner’s entire school career. They are both colorful and informative, displaying the alphabet, a multiplication table and a regional map.

Finally, the desks’ hole cut-out makes them easy to transport between home and school.

The Tutu Desk Campaign has provided more than 1.5 million desks to disadvantaged African children since its launch.

Since November, Milner’s Lillydale Literacy Project and Marblehead Rotary have raised funds for Tutu Desks. At $20, the cost of a Tutu Desk equates to about four tall lattes at the local coffee shop, Milner noted.

To date, Milner has raised over $15,000, or the equivalent of 750 desks, helping to move the Tutu Desk Campaign closer to its goal of delivering 20 million desks to African children in need by 2025.

Some board members argued that a rent restriction could discourage homeowners from building ADUs because the return on their investment would be delayed.

Ferrante stressed to her fellow board members that the zoning bylaw they will present to the Town Meeting should not be too restrictive.

“My opinion is that it’s getting too restrictive,” Ferrante said. “I’ve [also] said it is not for me to decide; it’s a Town Meeting vote that decides.”

The Planning Board indeed voted to leave the rent restriction in place and let Town Meeting decide its fate, as Marblehead Town Planner Becky Cutting confirmed that Town Meeting could amend the zoning proposal.

Many communities, like Salem and Swampscott, have framed their ADU policies as a way to mitigate the regional housing crisis.

The 2020 Marblehead Housing Production Plan noted the town’s demographic changes “compel expansion and diversification of its housing stock.” The plan listed ADUs as a way to “create naturally occurring affordable housing.”

The data informing that recommendation included that the number of Marblehead households led by someone 55 or older had increased by 21 percent in seven years, from 6,597 households in 2010 to 7,978 households in 2017, while the number of residents between the ages of 25 to 44 had shrunk by 63 percent.

Kurt James, a Marblehead Fair Housing Committee member and former Marblehead Housing Authority commissioner, has said that producing ADUs as affordable housing may require not just putting a bylaw in place but adding incentives.

James noted that approving ADUs would open the door to collaboration and leveraging resources.

“The Fair Housing Committee and the Affordable Housing Trust could all work together to identify resources to support the rent restriction,” he said. “In the slightly longer term, [we] work with the Planning Board and the assessor’s office to create a home rule petition to create a real estate tax exemption for the value of the new unit as an added incentive and consideration of the affordable housing restriction.”

Jay Michaud and his wife, Susan, live in Florida for the winter and are interested in downsizing from their large home when they are in Marblehead. Michaud said converting a garage on their property would permit them to relocate into smaller living quarters and age in place.

“There are so many of us that want to stay in our town,” he said.

He added that an ADU would permit him and Susan to downsize and not “have to live in a big house with all the expenses that go along with it.”

From P. A1

Lynch said Mayflower was known for its community feel.

“We’re a family place with a homey feeling. And we’re very dog friendly. We always had cookies for the dogs.”

Katherine Koch, director at the Marblehead Chamber of Commerce, said she always brought her clothes to Mayflower. Even Santa got his suit cleaned there after the Christmas Walk every year, she said.

“Especially for Marblehead, which is a community that is proud to shop local, it’s unfortunate that we’re losing this longloved and established business,” Koch said.

News of Mayflower closing prompted an outpouring on Marblehead social media pages with hundreds of people posting.

“Absolutely devastated,” wrote one woman. “Loved this wonderful business, the amazing staff, the professional output and just the pure comfort of having a place I could effortlessly rely on. A huge loss.”

“So very sad indeed,” wrote another.

“To the owners and dedicated workers, a heartfelt ‘Thank you,’ and best of luck. You will be missed.”

Yet another: “Sadly, another Marblehead store is closing. I still miss going to Chet’s Video.”

The one remaining dry cleaner in Marblehead is Carter’s located at Village Plaza.

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