Yes — to repeat: the above commentary is by JOE COCCARO, who, as he states in the first sentence, is a “new resident.” Joe Coccaro (his real name) lives near Central Park. The Wave regrets any confusion with longtime resident and former town manager Joe Vaccaro. –EDITOR

“A dilapidated building that, in my view, is ugly.” Obviously, this guy just got off the bus. According to the latest assessment and inspection by the developer himself, the building is hardly dilapidated, and is actually in incredible shape (one walk through the halls would tell you that). Ugly? Now if, Stieglitz or Edward Hopper were to come to paint or photograph this town, where would the Precisionist eye go? The delicate Shanty? The harbor? Bay Creek? The grotesque and heinous fountain? No dude, they would go to the industrial sections, the structures that cherished working men, like the old school.

“it’s not “historic’’ and seems devoid of architectural splendor”. The school is 100 years old, and contains the oldest stage on the Eastern Shore. If it’s not historic, someone needs to tell DHR who is about to grant millions of dollars in ‘Historic’ tax credits for the renovations. Not sure what he considers architectural splendor, but I’d recommend he take a ride up to Red Hook and see the Domino Sugar Refinery, the Eberhard Faber Pencil Factory, and Dumbo–preservation does not just serve nostalgia, but has tangible economic and environmental benefits (i.e. construction, adaptive re-use, reducing the waste from demolition etc.).

“just tearing the old girl down.” You just can’t tear it down, just because you feel like it, because, it’s well, HISTORIC. From a state and federal government perspective, the policy for historic structures is “low cost, low maintenance adaptive reuse.” The EPA and DEQ would also frown upon it, noting “the greenest building is one you don’t send to a landfill ” Ugly to some, but its design harkens back to all historically significant industrial sites, structures, artifacts, and technology–preserving it preserves our industrial and technological past (yes, the Shore does have one). Maintaining that building in its historically relevant state summons one term, “archaeology”. Those who are from here, that understand the history of this place, have a principal concern with the physical evidence of all artifacts, preservation of historically significant sites, structures, buildings, industrial processes, even bridges, railroads, and communities.

“The town can’t afford a community center; our population and tax base aren’t large enough to justify one. I get that, and I agree with the town’s decision to be fiscally prudent.” Did he just use ‘the town’ and ‘fiscally prudent’ in the same sentence? Oh, my. After the ride to Red Hook, I would also recommend a drive to the old Onancock School, and review that model. That is the same model Old School Cape Charles was going to use to renovate and open the school.

To be fair, I do agree that with him that Section 8, low income workforce housing is not appropriate in the park. Especially when those 65 cars, with no off street parking, have to start lining up all around it.

As cloying as this letter is, I have to thank Mr. Coccaro for penning it, for nothing sums up the divide in this town more than this. The schism between the old, real Cape Charles, those that want to preserve the Town’s actual historical character and significance and the new, quaint, faux Cape Charles, those that want to destroy history, and re-create the town in their own suburban, nightmarish image, is too wide to be closed by any election (it also helps explain the large vats of Proto Kool Aid being devoured by our delicate citizens), and the wounds are too deep for any immediate grace or reconciliation. For now, I would learn to embrace the acrimony. Welcome to Cape Charles.

Yet the town could afford a $20 million wastewater treatment plant. The town is more than $10 million in debt, and less than six months ago voted to borrow $1 million more. How much would a community center really cost? It seems like the sale of the school (for $10) has little to do with fiscal prudence and a lot to do with political priorities.