To the Editor:
The Martha’s Vineyard Film festival (MVFF) issue of expansion in West Tisbury has provoked a lot of people. Aside from the development mechanism used, which many considered unethical — if technically legal — it raises an important question for the Island: Where is the development line drawn between dense and rural-like environments? West Tisbury sits on that line. It has already established areas for commercial development in the town. If MVFF wants the convenience of West Tisbury, it should locate in one of those areas.
Further to this, the MVFF has not demonstrated they are an educational organization, and if they continue to claim that exemption to develop where they want, under the state’s Dover Amendment, I seriously doubt they will find the people of the town behind them.
I don’t dispute the MVFF mission or the programming. I simply do not believe anything which promises to generate traffic, noise, outside screenings — in the center of a quiet neighborhood, historic or not — does not belong in the rural parts of the community. And yes, there are many more important issues swirling around in the atmosphere than a building. However, this is the part of the world that I live in, and I will exercise my responsibility of protect it.
Let’s not make way for progress. Development is insidious. Once the boundaries are broken, it’s easy to continue to chip away.
If we look at the Manhattan of 1650 or even 1750, it is not unlike the Vineyard we see today — at least up-Island, even if we are more suburban with our many residential dwellings. Many people would like to see it stay that way in the time we have left as an Island as we know it. I refer you to the book “Mannahatta,” by Eric W. Sanderson, which charts the development of a bucolic island to the concrete and steel extravaganza that it has become. And interestingly, like Manhattan, we do have bedrock in Chilmark. Maybe we should propose a 50-story building, do things right, and solve all our problems for once and for all.
Sue Hruby
West Tisbury
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