Nahant residents deliver letter to Northeastern University about proposed expansion

BOSTON – A North Shore town is turning up the heat on Northeastern University in its fight against a major expansion.

Boston 25 News reporter Drew Karedes has been telling you about their crusade since February. On Tuesday, he witnessed firsthand how the battle is far from over.

Residents from Nahant want Northeastern to know that even though they live in the smallest town in the state, they have a big voice.

“We aren’t against education, we aren’t against Northeastern. But we are firmly against their expansion with a 60,000 square foot building on conservation land,” Nahant resident Jim Walsh said.

The university is planning to expand its marine science center on Nahant’s East Point, an area known for its picturesque appeal and abundant wildlife.

“They want to put glass and steel where we have snowy owls and foxes and butterflies and birds, and it’s sickly inappropriate,” Walsh said.

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Walsh led about 50 of his fellow neighbors into Boston on Tuesday afternoon to deliver an open letter to the president’s office at Northeastern’s main campus.

“This is the beginning of an effort that will not end until Northeastern rethinks their actions,” Walsh said.

Northeastern’s Vice President John Tobin greeted them in a hallway to accept the letter that has been signed by about 1,700 Nahant residents.

“Do the right thing. Just because they can build this building doesn’t mean they should build this building,” Nahant resident Diane Monteith said.

The passionate group of residents who visited Northeastern’s campus Tuesday brought cautious optimism back on board their bus home to Nahant.

Whether they left behind an impression seems to be up for debate.

“Other towns and city realize this could happen to them. I think Northeastern is listening to us, they sent out two brochures. They are spending money they are listening,” Monteith said.

But that optimism doesn’t mean residents are backing down.

“We intend to use every available means to legally fight Northeastern University,” Walsh said. “We have seen no sign that they are rethinking their position.”

Boston 25 News has been requesting an on-camera interview with Northeastern officials since February on this issue. So far school officials have declined the opportunity, but they did issue the following statement.

“Northeastern officials accommodate groups who deliver their petitions peacefully and we ensure that the documents are reviewed appropriately. Northeastern has campuses across North America, and we take the views of our host communities seriously.”

The university said its expansion proposal remains in development and has not yet reached final design.

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