Empty Lot in South Attleboro a Landing Place for Litter

Smack dab in the middle of and in South Attleboro is a five-acre vacant lot that has become the landing place for litter.

The property borders Newport Avenue, Angeline Street and Washington Street and is an eye-sore to some residents in the area who say they believe the vacant lot is not the best greeting for Rhode Islanders entering the southern part of the city. 

"It's a lousy 'welcome to Attleboro' advertisement," said Dan Devine, a South Attleboro resident. "Maybe the Boy or Girl Scouts could volunteer on a nice Saturday or Sunday and pick up all the trash. , Lowes, Home Depot, Papa Ginos...and other neighboring business establishments could take a little pride in the community and sponsor a cleanup."

That may be the best way to solve the problem, according to the property owner, Gerry Vachon. 

Vachon, who attempted to put a on the property in 2008, said he has no current plans to clean up the litter and that once the shrubs grow in the litter is not an issue.

"Walgreens pulled the plug at the last minute," Vachon said. "And I had thousands and thousands in that development.

"I have not been able to go by and look at it myself, but I know at this time of the year it always looks messy," he added. "In two weeks from now, nature takes care of it because the shrubs come up and the leaves cover it and it doesn’t look bad."

Vachon said part of the problem is that he let the state use the property a few years ago and they took a lot of the shrubbery down. 

The plastic bags from neighboring stores and other litter from nearby fast-food establishments is on the property, but not because of Vachon, he said. 

"As much as it is bad, it is unfortunate that everyone throws stuff out of the window," Vachon said. "I have been contacted in the past and have allowed a church group to go on the property and do it and I would be open to that again."

"I'm paying humongous taxes on that property each year, the city is welcome to clean up the property" he said. 

Each year, Vachon, who currently owns Lance Buick GMC in Mansfield, writes a $60,000 check for his annual tax bill to the city of Attleboro on that five-acre parcel. 

Asked if he has asked the city to help clean up the property, Vachon said: "I don't expect any help from the city. As a business owner I feel like I'm spitting in the wind by doing something like that and I don't believe the squeaky wheel gets the grease.

"It would be nice if the city would do it, but I would assume they wouldn't because they have their hands full," he said. "When it comes to commercial property they figure you are on your own."

Cherie Felos, who is the city councilor for that ward, said the city is sponsoring a clean up day next weekend, the same weekend as Earth Day, and invited Devine and anyone he would like to invite to participate. It is not clear if the property will be part of the city's cleanup plan. 

Vachon said he will visit the site "in a couple of weeks" to see if the growth has covered it up, but said "if someone wants to pursue [a cleanup], I'm fine with it."