To the editor:

We are writing in response to the recently approved Town Meeting Warrant as reported in the Belmont Patch (Eight Articles Await Special Town Meeting, Dec 9).  The article suggests that the only option to saving the Thomas Clark House is in the hands of the nearly 300 Town Meeting representatives; this is not correct.

It is unfortunate that the significantly complex developer-driven relocation of the Clark house to Royal Road is the only option included on the January Town Meeting Warrant. The town owns several additional large parcels of land, including,

• 29,440 sq. ft. of land at 2 Common St. (large open area next to the historic Wellington Station),

• 17,716 sq. ft. of land at 130 Orchard St. (across from the Wellington School), and

• more than 20,000 sq. ft. of land between 32 and 50 School St. (also across from the Wellington School).  

All three of these sites are very close to the original site on Common Street and could be wonderful and respectful new homes for the 1760 structure. 

There have also been offers from individuals outside of Belmont to take the house. While this might require the structure to be partially disassembled and reassembled, that may in fact be the safest way to transport the house.

If anyone has additional ideas about how to save the Thomas Clark House, they should contact the Belmont Historic District Commission.

Meryl and Kyle Junik

Royal Road