Owners Seek to Tear Down Wonderland Greyhound Park

By Sue Ellen Woodcock

At tonight’s meeting of the Conservation Commission,  owners of the old Wonderland Greyhound Park are seeking permission to tear down the once thriving business.

CBW Lending and Sterling Suffolk Racecourse, represented by Revere attorney Stephen Reardon, have filed a notice of intent to demolish and remove certain structures at the old dog track facility at 190 VFW Parkway.

The application states that the owners would like to demolish the grandstands, clubhouse, scoreboard and outbuildings, roughly 149,990 square feet. Work is expected to include the abatement of asbestos containing materials, utility disconnects, demolition and stabilization of disturbed areas. Asbestos will be removed before demolition. Existing oil storage tanks remain in the boiler building, which has already been drained, cut open and cleaned. Existing sewer and drain lines will not be disturbed. The buildings will be demolished to the ground level and ground floor slabs and foundations will remain.

City Councillors John Powers and Robert Haas filed a motion back in January to have 38-acre Wonderland site torn down because it has had sat empty for so long.

“It’s been abandoned so long it’s ridiculous,” said Councillor John Powers. “The condition is a disgrace and it’s a disgrace we’ve allowed.”

For nearly 75 years Wonderland Greyhound Park operated and was closed on Aug. 19, 2010 as a result of a statewide ban on dog racing.

The public hearing will be held tonight at 7 p.m. in the city hall council chambers

Any disturbance of alteration of land in an area either within or near a Wetland Resource or within 100 feet of the 100-year flood plain is subject to Conservation Commission jurisdiction.

Sue Ellen Woodcock can be reached at [email protected]

 

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