March 28, 2024

The Facts about Greenbrier

Posted

I’m beginning this article with an open invitation to anyone that would like a tour of Greenbrier any time at your convenience. I won’t give you a canned tour I’ll take you anywhere you want to go and answer any questions posed.
Personally, I don’t have a Facebook page, so I’m responding to what has been told to me about the misconceptions, lies and slander about Greenbrier and Mr. Tapalian that are spread on Konk Konnect.

I’ve lived at Greenbrier for almost two years and have never seen one rat. I see lots of Canada Geese, some rare waterfowl and dogs. In fact I saw more field mice at the house we owned because it backed up to woods, but have never even seen a field mouse here.

The only traffic issues happen when trying to leave Greenbrier and get on to Rt. 114, but that cars coming off of 195 and heading into Luther’s Corner, not into Greenbrier, cause traffic. In fact, I’ve never been in traffic leaving Greenbrier. In other words there has never been a car in front of me as I was waiting to get on to Rt. 114.

Simply put there aren’t cars speeding around Greenbrier. People that are concerned with traffic are suggesting that we put a market, Garden City type retail, Wegmans, or another big box store at the old Showcase Cinemas and think that won’t cause traffic.

Dumpsters aren’t overflowing and abutting neighbors property. That is an outright lie. Again, drive thru here and see for yourself.

Is Greenbrier perfect? No. But neither are the homes you live in, or the home I lived in. Everything has its blemishes and can be made better. But to hear the lies and absurd slander about a place that has filled a niche in Seekonk that many residents are thankful for is sickening.

Many seniors that could no longer afford, or handle their homes yet wanted to stay in Seekonk to be near their grandchildren are living here. One of the buildings here, that has 45 apartments in it, is for 55 and older only. I hardly think they’re whizzing around the neighboring streets, or impacting our schools. We lived on Cole Street for a few years. Cole Street, unfortunately, was and will always be a cut thru, but not due to Greenbrier. That is the chief reason that Cole Street experiences a lot of traffic, because people want to avoid the mess at Luther’s Corner and all of the traffic lights caused by Retail outlets, which again is not caused by Greenbrier.

Rt. 6 has more traffic and is designed in such a way that you have to stop at several traffic lights in order to turn around, yet no one criticizes the monstrosity of a traffic mess that all those retail stores cause.

Many families that were broken up due to divorce and didn’t want have to move to another city, or town and have to pull their children out of Seekonk, live here. Young families that didn’t have the down payment for a home and wanted their children to attend Seekonk Schools live here.

I remember attending a Quad Board meeting 8 years ago in Seekonk and one woman that served on one of the boards stated that Greenbrier would bring in 1,500 to 2,000 additional children into Seekonk Schools. Now 8 years later and 90% filled Greenbrier has added a total of 55 kids to our school system. People really need to rely on facts instead of gut reaction.

Greenbrier plows it’s own streets, handles it’s own trash, takes care of it’s effluent issues with it’s own sewer treatment plant, which by the way has zero impact on Seekonk’s environment. In fact your homes have more negative impact on the environment than Greenbrier. Greenbrier provides almost a million dollars in taxes every year to Seekonk while asking little, if any, of the town’s services.

By the way why doesn’t anyone criticize the development that the Darlings created in Seekonk? You know that lovely go-kart center and all of those retail buildings hotels, etc. that really impact traffic and town services?

Mr. Tapalian offered to build a senior center, animal shelter, veteran’s memorial and was rejected. He understood that building a municipal edifice requires prevailing wage and interference from state agencies that drive the cost of building through the roof. As I remember there weren’t any strings attached to any of his offers. He’s a senior citizen and understood that seniors wanted a place to be with other seniors. And he got frustrated at the length of time and bickering that took place over building a center for our seniors. His love and passion for all animals caused him to offer to build an animal shelter. He also was upset at how the veterans were being treated as they tried to build a memorial honoring those that gave the ultimate sacrifice so that we would be able to enjoy free speech and yes even unwarranted remarks toward him and his business.

Mr. Tapalian is hardly perfect as are none of us, but he’s hardly the ogre that is portrayed on Konk Konnect. Those people on Konk Konnect that criticize his children ought to be ashamed of themselves. Children are off limits. None of you would stand for your child to be criticized – so to those that sink to that level I ask that you stop.

Mr. Tapalian has never filed bankruptcy on a development as other developers in Seekonk have done leaving people hanging. He’s always delivered exactly as planned.

We moved to Greenbrier because our children had moved away to their careers in different states and we found ourselves living in three rooms in our home. Being the lazy person that I am I no longer wanted to deal with lawn care or the upkeep of a house so Greenbrier was a welcomed alternative. While I absolutely dislike New England weather and it’s politics I love Seekonk.

I’m not going to pretend that Mr. Tapalian is some perfect person, but I will say that he’s NOT the person often portrayed by people that don’t know him. He’s a friend, someone I work for part time and the most accessible multi-millionaire that I’ve ever met. He’s more than willing to work with anyone that takes the time to meet him half way. Yes he can be brash, outspoken and seemingly tough. But he’s one of those few people that won’t walk, head held high, by something that he can stop and take the time to help.

And Greenbrier is NOT the place that has been portrayed on Konk Konnect. Take the time to know the facts, before spewing falsehoods and slander. Greenbrier fills a need and niche that towns need. A lot of people, more than you think, are grateful that they can continue living in Seekonk to be close to their families. Many are grateful that having hit hard times they can still live in a safe community like Seekonk.

David Saad
Seekonk, MA

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