To the editor:

Town Council and Ad Hoc Monastery Committee Members, thank you for your leadership and guidance on the future of 25 Watson Ave. We, the Friends & Neighbors of 25 Watson Ave, would like to make the following recommendations, all of which align with the major themes in the town’s comprehensive plan:

1. Restore the existing structure of the monastery building.

2. Meet the needs of an aging population by providing age-restricted housing for the Barrington Community.

3. Achieve resilience in the face of a changing environment and preserve the uniquely beautiful open space of the property and minimize impact to wildlife and Narragansett Bay. It will be a missed opportunity if the current green space on the property is not preserved

4. Minimize impact on the neighborhood from traffic, noise, and lighting.

5. Embrace a cleaner, greener future by leveraging renewable energy and LEED Certification.

As the town council voiced early in this process, by purchasing the monastery property the town will be able to protect the interests of the Barrington community. We believe that these recommendations provide an outline to do just that as well as to preserve the character, beauty, and unique attributes of this property and neighborhood.

Matt and Elizabeth Grieser 

Kate and Ian Burgess 

Steve and Vanessa Sheehan 

Mary Grenier

Diane Lipscombe

David Butera

Mary and Bill DeWitt

Bill Karner

Michelle & Alan Daniels

Carl van Warmerdam

Scott & Debra Neyser

Samuel N. Chase 

Paige A Barbour

Stephen & Loredana Lister

Mary Alyce Gasbarro 

Karen Anderson

Cindy Capra

Duenna J. Karner 

Lee and John Edwards 

Tracey Pereira-Baker and Michael Baker

Denise Dangremond

Elizabeth Foley 

James Foley 

Stan Dimock 

Arlene McAuley 

Alfred J Corso 

Alfred J Corso Jr

Walter Guertler

Cesar Hernandez 

Molly Franke 

Heather Frerichs 

Ursula Wade

Susan & Martin Moran 

Kristin Meranda

Sheila Blumstein 

Jonathan and Jen Pfeffer

Charles & Sarah Denby

Anthony Carcieri 

Bear Marchal 

Serena Manny 

Elizabeth Karner 

Andra Shea

Katherine Pyles & Kevin Wendell

Barrington