Historic District Pizza: Tasty vs. Tasteful

August 18th, 2006 · 12 Comments · Local, Main

pizza%20argazzi.jpg About three weeks ago (this would be in the middle of the night, right after I reluctantly killed the bat), I was reading my email when I ran across a tip that Dean Diamond was buying 24 Millerton Road in Lakeville and that he planned to open a pizzeria there.

I didn’t think much of it. There was nothing yet in the assessor’s office about the transaction and it sounded quite preliminary. So I shelved the item, thinking I would write about it in a few weeks or ask Dean about it the next time I saw him.

Then early this week we at The Lakeville Journal received a couple of unexpected letters to the editor from two neighboring property owners who were aghast — indeed, almost indignant — that a “fast-food joint” would be allowed to operate in their historic neighborhood.

So I set about writing an article on the controversy. You can click here to read it. I was struck by the tone of the letters.

Judith Singelis, who owns the upscale art gallery Argazzi next door, appeared genuinely upset that the pizzeria would have a negative impact on her business. She was particularly irked that she had to endure the indiginity of finding out about it at the check-out line at Labonne’s rather than from town officials whose job she assumed it would be to tell her in advance of such things. While interviewing her briefly outside her gallery, I sympathized with Singelis as I listened to her voice crack with emotion.

Dr. Berel Held, another letter writer who lives across the street, was less charitable when describing the impact the pizzeria would have on the neighborhood. His concerns about traffic and parking on the steep and curvy road are well founded, as his idea for a “proactive development plan.” But he lost me when talking about esthetics and “ambiance.” My reactions to his points are in italics.

“The traffic and atmosphere of a take-out, fast-food type eatery is inconsistent with the ambiance of this historic district,” he wrote. “We need something more appropriate, something tasteful, to greet visitors to our special place in the Northwest Corner.”

More tasteful than what? The middlebrow gift shop that previously occupied the space?

“A pizzeria there … is bad for all Lakeville businesses.”

It might be bad news for Mizza’s, the Italian restaurant around the corner, but how would it hurt Lakeville Wine & Spirits or, say, the Patco?

“We do not wish to recreate the image of so many ordinary or anonymous villages defined at their entrance point by a fast-food joint where the traveler’s first impression impels him or her to drive on through without pausing.”

Sounds like a veiled reference to either Canaan or Millerton. Would a hungry “traveler” stop at Dean’s for a slice or “drive on through?” Perhaps Dr. Held and I don’t hang in the same social circles, but when I’m traveling, hungry or looking for lunch during the work day, I look for something that’s inexpensive and relatively “fast.” And, yes, this includes pizza.

“My concerns are in retaining the beauty of our community and enhancing its appeal to visitors and residents alike.”

I may be wrong (and please correct me if I am), but I suspect Dr. Held’s objection has more to do with the kind of food to be served and the kind of people who will be serving it and eating it. Would he be similarly upset if a cute bistro opened that served $15 sandwiches and $5 lattes?

I have known Dean Diamond for 10 years and respect him very much. He is one of the hardest working volunteers in the town, serving as he does on the Salisbury Recreation Commission and as a coach for Salisbury Youth Hockey. I would be shocked if he opened an eatery that would be detrimental to his own communty.

I understand the concerns of Singelis and Held, but the point is that the property is zoned commercial and has been operated that way for decades. If neighboring property owners were so concerned about what might occupy the space, why didn’t they buy the property from Sandy Gomez and her daughter, Stephanie Clarke? Then they and they alone could have determined what kind of business rents the space. Now that’s the kind of “proactive development plan” even Dr. Held could appreciate.

Update 08.19.06
I forgot to mention that Dr. Held has a for sale sign in front of his home.

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12 responses so far ↓

1 fred // Aug 18, 2006 at 2:26 pm

right on spot about “the kind of food served and the people serving it and eating it”

I, myself, welcome a place where I would feel comfortable with a casual eating atmosphere [that is in my price range]… something I would not be so sure of if I was dinning at… say, The Wake Robbin Inn.
2 Marshall Miles // Aug 19, 2006 at 5:36 am

Terry!
I already talked about this on-air on Friday.

I can not beleive what some people will put in writing. I will not go point for point on both letters, just suffice it to say both were arrogant, and elitist in tone and content.
This is and was a commercial district. Yes, it is a historic district, but it has always been a commercial district as long as I know…a place where people can do business.
If you don’t want your art gallery or home in a business district, don’t put it there! To cast aspersions on a community member who volunteers with kids, pays taxes, and raises his family here is B.S. I frankly am tired of the us vs. them attitude that is now so prevelant. I wrote of the need of tolerance in politics the other day…that need of tolerance extends to everyday life as well.
Not everybody loves pizza, not everyone loves art, but damn it, I for one, want the option of having both!

I am just assuming both letter writers had taken leave of their common sense due to a high temperature from the ever spreading virus NIMBY (not in my back yard).

Even art lovers eat out!!

Build it Dean, and they will come!

Marshall Miles
3 Paul Bartomioli // Aug 19, 2006 at 9:32 pm

Perhaps some prefer empty storefronts on the main thoroughfare in town. What does that say to prospective visitors and perhaps future residents?

Living in the boonies takes some getting used to; starting a business, regardless of past success, is still a gamble. How many restaurants have closed in that little area in the past few years? How many eateries in Lakeville have been in business for more than 5 years, the SBA standard for business success?

Perhaps the marketplace will take care of the “problem” and remove one of the businesses. But, like the Middle East, we can always hope and pray for people to stop fighting and work together for the common good.
4 Judith Singelis // Aug 22, 2006 at 10:39 pm

Just read the various comments re Historic District’s newest restaurant.

It is unfortunate that so many thought the tone of both my and Dr. Held’s letter was arrogant and elitist. That was not the intention of either of us.

What so many do not realize is the location for this business and the fact that the traffic is generally going well over the 30mph speed limit. One would have to spend just an hour outside my building to realize this. I would be opposed to ANY high impact business coming in this section, regardless of whether or not it were upscale. The Journal posed that question to me last week and I answered the same way. All other issues are secondary although I think all are viable

I, too, am a working woman- and have been for most of my adult life. I care very much about this village and as mentioned in my original letter, would like it to remain as intact as possible. For anyone to insinuate that I feel differently, is totally inaccuate.

I am definitely not an elitist nor is Dr. Held. Our concerns are viable and fair. The issue is not just about the menu. Fast food and wholesale markets are the American Way -

I stand firm on my opposition but from what I understand, the restaurant is going through. I still feel that the neighbors should have at least been notified but again, it is not town policy. It seems to be a matter of plain common courtesy.

As far as why I or my neighbors did not purchase the building so that we could possibly have controlled what might come in, let me say that I for one, did not know the building was for sale. I had assumed that the signage on route 44 was for the fitness center which has been on the market for some time. That was my mistake. I did however, speak to the owners of 20 Millerton Road and they mentioned that they might have been interested in purchasing the building, however the asking price of over 500K was well out of range. Apparently the sale went through rather quickly at a much lower price.

So be it.

I will do my best to support the endeavors of any business in Lakeville, and hope that we all can succeed.

My concerns, however, will remain the same.
5 Judith Singelis // Aug 22, 2006 at 10:52 pm

Mr. Miles: FYI, I was not suffering from heat exhaustion or otherwise. You are entitled to your opinion as well everyone else. But you should know, as you perhaps have read in my letter above, that I too, am a hardworking (single) woman and I too, pay taxes and try to contribute. Anyone who owns and operates a business does so, as well.

I am sorry if you felt my letter was arrogant and elitist….. it was never intended to be so. The written word can be so misconstrued and admittedly, I wrote the letter mostly from my heart and not my head.

My concerns, however remain the same.I would like nothing more than to be proved wrong.
6 Marshall Miles // Aug 23, 2006 at 6:22 am

Judith

I never questioned wether you were hard working or not. I have stated on many occasions that I thought the addition of the galleries was a bonus for Lakeville. All I tried to imply with my letter both on Terry’s Blog, and in the Lakeville Journal, (with some sarcastic humor), is that when you write a letter, put it in a drawer for a day, read it again, and see if your true feelings come out, or if you are so close to a situation, that possibly the emotions of the moment caused you to write someting that does not truly reflect your personality! I feel the latter is the case, and I applaud what you have done for the section of LAkeville where your gallery is. I wish you noting but success, when I stop by Dean’s for a slice, I’ll stop by and say hi…

Marshall
7 Judith Singelis // Aug 23, 2006 at 11:14 am

..look forward to meeting you too, Marshall. Again, I wanted the letter to be spontaneous and from my heart… hence my reason for putting it out there quickly.
I am happy that you think the arts are great for Lakeville-Salisbury, too. Judith
8 Amy Deitz // Aug 23, 2006 at 10:26 pm

Ms. Singelis,

I have spoken to many people who have read your letter to the editor and the article in the Lakeville Journal. Every single one of them felt that your words were arrogant and elitist. Perhaps you should write a second letter to the Journal stating the true intent of your letter, as I am sure that many of the Journal’s readers will not be reading your replies to Terry’s blog.
9 edward a. nickerson // Aug 25, 2006 at 1:44 pm

Here are some possible names for the new restaurant:

pie in the sky
pie r squared or pi r square pizzeria
rizza pizza
toppiins pizzeria
smart tart pizzeria
ivy league pizza
“Our Kind” pizza (taking the gloves off on snob appeal)
Vanderbilt Pizzeria
800 SAT pizza (for the preppies)
Quiche Italienne
Gratinee Napolitaine
Show Ring Pizza or Whip and Spur Pizza (for the horsey see)
10 edward a.. nickerson // Aug 25, 2006 at 3:04 pm

additional comment and correction:
toppiins pizza should be Toppings Pizza and Horsey See should be Horsy Set –
More importantly, my “comments” are not opinions but simply ideas submitted with the aim of having fun. Of course, having fun, or celebrating pleasure, is what the first makers of pizza, back in southern Italy many years ago, and the first visual artists were doing, drawing with charcoal on the walls of caves. May having fun win and solemnity lose, both on canvas and in cuisine. - E.A.N.
11 edward a.. nickerson // Aug 26, 2006 at 11:26 am

A friend in Sharon, Sal Accardo, suggests the following name:

PizzaPhilia.

This supplies an erudite Greek suffix meaning “love of” as in Anglophilia and all the rest.
12 Dean Diamond // Sep 10, 2006 at 1:50 am

I would first love to thank everyone for their letters of encouragement. I have saved them all and will be hanging them in Deano’s Pizza on the community wall. Although I have loved all the names, my family had already chosen Deano’s and I had already sent in my LLC. I am also very thankful of Judith for starting this contorversy as I couldn’t have asked for better publicity. I would also like to add the I have stood outside my yet to be pizzeria and have witnessed the speed of traffic. It is definitely faster than the posted speed limit; however I don’t understand how my pizza shop would create more of a hazard. As a matter of fact I believe as cars are slowing down to hopefully stop in for a slice of authentic Brooklyn Pizza, this will cause the traffic to actually slow down and make our town safer. I would also like to offer lunch on the house for Marshall and Judith and would like to have Terry there to take pictures and notes. I would also like to say that as people are driving into town, the smell of great Italian cooking is great way to be greeted. I am looking forward to serving you all again as I have missed it immensely. I thank each and everyone of you for all of your support, I have truly enjoyed it.
Dean Diamond

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