State Approves $1.2 million Boardwalk in Haverhill

According to the Eagle Tribune, the state has approved a $1.2 million Boardwalk in downtown Haverhill, which is designed to be a Newburyport-style Riverwalk boardwalk, with a 300-foot walkway, extending from behind The Tap to the new Franchi condominium building at 66 Washington Street. The project also includes renovating the old city boardwalk behind Haverhill Bank on Merrimack Street, about a quarter of a mile from The Tap.

Revitalizing the downtown Haverhill business section and attracting tourism have been perennial goals of Haverhill’s newly re-elected mayor, James Fiorentini, the Greater Haverhill Chamber of Commerce and the resident-led Team Haverhill.

Click here to read the entire Eagle Tribune article, featuring the Mayor’s detailed plans for downtown Haverhill.

New Traffic Signal in Middleton Improves Traffic

The Tri-Town Transcript reports that a new traffic light at Forest Street and North Main Street in Middleton has improved traffic. The signal is part of the State’s renovations to the town’s main throughway, Route 114.

Read the entire Tri-Town Transcript article

Verizon Pitches Danvers for TV License

The Danvers Herald reports that Verizon is seeking to be the 2nd cable TV in Danvers. Currently Comcast is the only company licensed by the Town to provide cable services; without a license, Verizon cannot provide the service. Verizon would offer fiber optic lines, or FIOS, and it could package TV service with Internet and telephone.

Amongst the concerns of the Town Selectmen are to be sure any license holder provided the service to every person in town, not just to those living in the more congested areas; that every public building and school had the service; and that a percentage of the fee went to the local community access TV (DCAT).

Read the entire Danvers Herald article

Beverly seeks bids on Beverly Airport lot

The Beverly Citizen reports the city of Beverly is looking for bids to develop a 3-acre lot adjacent to the Beverly Airport. Proposals can be turned in at City Hall; the deadline for proposed bids are December 28th. According to the article, “possible development of the land − which would either be sold or leased − could include light manufacturing, office space or industrial uses. A special permit could allow other uses such as a hotel. The property is a triangularly shaped parcel on the northwestern corner of LP Henderson Road and Sam Fonzo Drive.”

The Airport Commission declared the land surplus in February 2005. Later that year, after some debate, the City Council voted 8-1 to also approve it as surplus. The City of Beverly also put the property out for bid last year but failed to receive any response.

Read the entire Beverly Citizen article

Topsfield Property Owner to Convert House into Commercial Property

The Tri-Town Transcript reports that owner of this Central Street residence in Topsfield, is looking to convert the home into office or retail use. The Topsfield Zoning Board of Appeals are concerned about the location of a handicap ramp and parking. Currently, the applicant(s) have not decided what type of business is intended for the property. The next Zoning Board of Appeals meeting is scheduled for November 27th.

Read the entire Tri-Town Transcript article. Photo and article by Brendan Lewis, who can be reached at BLewis@cnc.com.

Gloucester Unlikely to Subsidize Sewer Betterments

The Walker Creek, Little River and Jones River neighborhoods in Gloucester are all notorious for failed septic systems near estuaries of the Annisquam River. According to the Gloucester Daily Times:

“A City Council committee working with representatives of Mayor John Bell has drafted an ordinance that makes it highly unlikely the city will help subsidize betterments in future sewer expansions, as it has since the 1980s. A public hearing on the draft ordinance was tentatively scheduled for Dec.11. The draft replaces a simple repeal proposal that had been expected fortwo years…. Two years ago, the mayor's Sewer Task Force identified those areas as needing to be brought onto the municipal sewer system. But unless the projects to bring them on are mandated by a state or federal order, they would not qualify under the draft ordinance for the same betterment subsidy that other sections of the city received.”

The article reports that according to the Sewer Task Force, there are about 300 homes along Walker Creek. Without the subsidy, the projected betterment bill to each in 2005 was estimated at $40,000.

Read the entire Gloucester Daily Times article

Old Salem Evening News Building Demolished

The Salem News reported that on November 8th, the old Salem Evening News building was demolished in favor of downtown condominiums, apartments and shops. It had been empty the last few years and was beginning to become an eye-sore in an otherwise thriving downtown Salem. Somerville-based developer RCG, which bought the site in the summer for $2.4 million, plans to build 31 residences and finish construction in 2009.

Read the entire Salem News article

Middleton Company Makes-Over Rundown Land

The Tri-Town Transcript reported that BWK Construction, a Middleton business, has recently finished its expansion move, and in the process transformed two rundown parcels of land with “a number of decrepit shacks” on North Main Street into a charming yellow office building at 171 North Main Street.

Read the entire Tri-Town Transcript article

Danvers Plans for Plains Railroad Station on Hold

The Danvers Herald reported plans in Danvers to move the Plains Railroad Station are currently on hold; Salem Five Bank has now decided not to give the necessary land to the Danvers Preservation Fund, Inc.

Read the entire Danvers Herald article

Topsfield’s Tax Rate on the Rise

According to the Tri-Town Transcript, Topsfield is submitting an increased tax rate to the state; $12.02 per $1000 of assessed property − a 3.9% increase from fiscal 2007’s rate of $11.57 per $1000 of assessed property. The average single-family home in Topsfield is assessed at $583,000. Therefore, the average single-family tax bill would rise from $6,745 to $7,007, a $262 increase on their tax bill from last year. Residential properties in Topsfield make up almost 93% of the tax base in the town.

Read the entire Tri-Town Transcript article

Gloucester to Re-do $200,000 Crosswalk

According to the Gloucester Times, last year’s $200,000 modification of the crosswalks at Grant Circle in Gloucester is being modified. The state Highway Department has shifted the crossing of the northbound lane back to where it was until last spring − at the edge of the circle itself. MassHighway spokesman Erik Abell said the reconfiguration should be finished by the end of the year and cost about $100,000.

Read the entire Gloucester Times article

Federal Street Houses to be Moved in Salem

According to the Salem News, the State has accepted proposals to move 3 historic homes on Federal Street in Salem, which puts the town one step closer to building the proposed $106 million J. Michael Ruane Judicial Center.

Read the entire Salem News article

Merrimack River Dredging Project Survives Presidential Veto

The Eagle Tribune reported recently that the U.S House of Representatives overrode President Bush’s veto for the Water Resources Development Act of 2007, which would allow the Army Corps of Engineers to study the possibility of dredging the Merrimack River from Newburyport to Haverhill, a 16-mile stretch.

According to the article, “Newly elected U.S. Congresswoman Niki Tsongas, D-Lowell, was among the lawmakers to cast an override vote. Tsongas said the dredging is important to Haverhill's downtown renaissance − deeper waters would allow larger boats to dock in Haverhill, bringing in more visitors to shop and eat downtown.”

Read the entire Eagle Tribune article. Photo courtesy of Greater Haverhill Chamber of Commerce