Better Than Nothing

Social media has its shortcomings, and development isn’t generally celebrated in this region. But there are times when a new project gets more than its fair share of abuse, and it’s worth polishing the lens a bit.

Many people jeered on Facebook and Instagram after hearing that the Southampton Town Planning Board is poised to approve a new gas station and convenience store on the Riverside traffic circle, on a site that has been vacant for years. In a rare show of open support, Planning Board Chairman Dennis Finnerty pledged to the owners that town officials would “try to get this going for you,” clearing a regulatory path for the new 7-Eleven.

Another 7-Eleven? Another gas station? People groused. But, yes, the project on the site will cover about an acre and actually will get rid of a pair of long-abandoned eyesore properties. The new convenience store will be a cookie-cutter design — but it will show signs of life, which is something that key spot on the circle has lacked for far too long. The ADA-accessible bathrooms and the “Welcome to Riverside” sign the owner promises are nice touches, but the mere fact that it will remove blight from a highly visible site is reason enough to celebrate this as a win for the hamlet.

Do we need another 7-Eleven and more gas pumps? A business plan probably has concluded that it will be profitable, which is all that matters to its owner. The community should see it as a small step forward — perhaps not a giant leap, but still progress, which might begin to change the image of that crucial part of Riverside. At a spot that’s been a detriment for so long, take the win when you can.