Share: 

Five Points lighthouse warns of traffic dangers

May 26, 2017

I interpret the faux lighthouse that sits at the Five Point intersection on Route 1 as a warning of the dangers of not only this highly congested intersection, but also the immediate area around it.

This traffic island is less than a block from the Belltown church, Church Street, Lewes, which is seeking a variance to use the church as an emergency homeless shelter and to construct an additional facility on the opposite side of Church Street.

I feel this is an inappropriate location for the homeless shelter, as it will increase what is already heavy traffic but will also lock the 18-24 residents into this site, as there are few places for them to go.

Residents at the shelter will also endure high air pollution due to the heavy/standing truck and car usage surrounding this traffic island. Additionally, noise pollution will be a constant reminder of their bleak circumstance, rather than a quest for a better quality of life.

If Immanuel Shelter is seeking to serve the homeless, then a location farther west of the Five Points intersection would be better. If Immanuel Shelter is seeking to preserve the Belltown church and its history, then turning it into a museum would be best.

I am strongly opposed to the variance the Belltown church is seeking to turn into a homeless shelter, due to traffic and pollution concerns.

Eleanor Oudshoorn
Lewes

 

  • A letter to the editor expresses a reader's opinion and, as such, is not reflective of the editorial opinions of this newspaper.

    To submit a letter to the editor for publishing, send an email to viewpoints@capegazette.com. All letters are considered at the discretion of the newsroom and published as space allows. Due to the large volume of submissions, we cannot acknowledge receipt of each submission. Letters must include a phone number and address for verification. Keep letters to 400 words or fewer. We reserve the right to edit for content or length. Letters should be responsive to issues addressed in the Cape Gazette rather than content from other publications or media. Letters should focus on local issues, not national topics or personalities. Only one letter per author will be published every 30 days regarding a particular topic. Authors may submit a second letter within that time period if it pertains to a different issue. Letters may not be critical of personalities or specific businesses. Criticism of public figures is permissible. Endorsement letters for political candidates are no longer accepted. Letters must be the author’s original work, and may not be generated by artificial intelligence tools. Templates, form letters and letters containing language similar to other submissions will not be published.