Foreclosure Prevention Workshop

The Eagle Tribune reported that the Haverhill Community Development Department and the Home Preservation Center of Lowell will be holding a foreclosure prevention workship on Wednesday Nov. 19th from 1 to 3 p.m., in Room 301 at Haverhill City Hall. Those who attend will receive free counseling on foreclosure prevention, how to avoid foreclosure scams, reducing credit debt, and managing finances. Participants are advised to bring relevant paperwork so counselors can help them more effectively.

Haverhill’s Olympia Square Being Developed

According to the Eagle Tribune, The Federated Companies, a Boston real estate development firm, has bought the Pentucket Building, locates at the intersection of White and Winter street, at the edge of a struggling neighborhood known as the Acre, for $1 million. Francis Bevilacqua, grandson of former longtime Haverhill state Rep. Francis Bevilacqua, is a principal in the firm and said that his group plans extensive renovations and hopes to attract high-quality local and national retail stores. Bevilacqua said he hopes renovations will start in a month, and he thinks the job can be done by the beginning of 2009, barring weather problems. He said he has hired a local architect, Ronald Albert, and that local firms will do the renovations.

Read the entire Eagle Tribune article.

Free Energy Workshop in Haverhill

The Eagle Tribune reported that a free energy workshop will be held at the Northern Essex Community College Technology Center in Haverhill on Monday, October 20th from 6:30 to 9 p.m.

Michael Berry, an energy efficiency expert, will make suggestions on how to make homes more energy efficient using the latest methods and also, local home improvement specialists and suppliers will be on hand to answer questions. Additionally, information on energy audits, fuel assistance and other programs will be available.

The workshop is cosponsored by the City of Haverhill, Rebuilding Together, the Clean Water Fund, Community Action Inc., and MASSAVE. More information is available from Lynn Murphy at 978-469-0800.

21 New Homes Planned around Haverhill's Renaissance Golf Course

The Eagle Tribune reported that new owner Southworth Development expects to build 21 new high-end homes around Haverhill’s Renaissance golf course. These homes will add to the 42 homes already built or under construction. According to the article, Haverhill's population has grown by 20% since 1990 to the current all-time high of 62,000 people. During that time, the city has experienced several housing booms, the latest being more than 700 apartments and condominiums being built or planned downtown.

The Renaissance property is located in one of Haverhill's most rural areas, between East Broadway and Kenoza Street. Renaissance is Haverhill's 6th golf course (five 18-hole courses and one 9-hole). It has 18 holes and a 30,000-square-foot clubhouse under construction. The Renaissance complex, sprawling across 197 acres, was touted as the best course in the region when it was built 3 years ago.

Read the entire Eagle Tribune article.

Affordable Housing Applications in Haverhill

According to the Eagle Tribune, Community Action Inc. is accepting applications from low- to moderate-income residents over age 55 to buy new condominiums at the Fairways for the reduced sale price of $199,000 ($10-20k discount from the original reduced sales price). The Fairways is a 30-unit, 55+ garden-style condo development off Newton Road.

Applications are available at Community Action's main office at 145 Essex St. There will be no lottery. The homes will be sold on a 1st-come, 1st-served basis. More information is available from Richard Lynch at 978-373-1971.

Read the entire Eagle Tribune article.

303-Unit Downtown Housing Complex to be Completed in Haverhill this Fall

According to the Newburyport News, the largest and most expensive housing development in city history is expected to have people living in it by October, Mayor James Fiorentini said. Forest City Enterprises of Cleveland is moving towards the completion of 303 1 and 2 bedroom upscale downtown apartments. The apartments are being built in old shoe factory buildings at the former Stoller building on Essex Street and the Lagasse building on Duncan Street.

The development is the 2nd in a Haverhill’s Chapter 40R Zoning “Smart Growth” district, approved by the City Council in 2007. Chapter 40R provides financial incentives to communities that help developers build affordable housing near transportation centers and existing urban infrastructure. Haverhill will receive a one-time payment from the state of $3,000 per new home built in the zone — more than $900,000 when the Forest City development is completed and fully occupied.

Read the entire Newburyport News article.

Rare fish Halts Haverhill’s Plan to Dredge Merrimack River

The Newburyport News reports that Haverhill’s plans to dredge the Merrimack River from Newburyport to lure more boaters downriver to its shoreline has been shelled by a fish (pun intended). The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has ruled the Haverhill stretch, particularly the waters off the downtown area, cannot be dredged because the work would disrupt the spawning areas of the shortnose sturgeon, a prehistoric-looking creature that lays eggs among rocks that would be removed during dredging, federal officials said.

Haverhill is looking to add public boat docks and build a riverwalk along the downtown stretch of the waterway, as well as enact new zoning to make sure future development does not block views of the river or public access to it. Workers are expected to start building two sections of the boardwalk this summer.

Read the entire Newburyport News article.

Haverhill Downtown Garage to Begin Construction this Summer

The Eagle Tribune reported that the long-awaiting, long-debated Haverhill municipal parking garage will begin construction this summer. The parking garage, being built by the Merrimack Valley Regional Planning Authority, will be at Railroad Square off Moulton Way, adjacent to the Haverhill MBTA station.

Work will begin with the necessary environmental cleanup and will start to actually begin being constructed in spring/summer 2009. It could be open before Christmas 2010, which would be a big boost for the city’s ongoing downtown renaissance.

Read the entire Eagle Tribune article.

States Contributes $400k to Haverhill to Buy Unused Railroad Land in Bradford

The Eagle Tribune reported that the State is pitching in with $400,000 to help Haverhill purchase an abandoned railroad bed on the Bradford side of the Merrimack River. The 1.1-mile railroad stretch runs from the Comeau Bridge at the western end of downtown to the Haverhill Paperboard company just east of the Basiliere Bridge. The city hopes to replace the dilapidated railroad bed with a recreational trail and eventually connect it to boardwalks and pathways on the downtown side of the river. The 2.5-mile loop would be connected on both ends of the downtown at the Basiliere and Comeau bridges, forming a continuous loop.

According to the Eagle Tribune article, Haverhill is negotiating to buy the unused railroad land and is counting on the rail trail and several other projects, including a boardwalk along Washington Street, to revitalize downtown and take advantage of the river as a tourist attraction. The idea is that the proposed pathway will increase foot traffic in the business district, giving a boost to shops and restaurants and creating a lively atmosphere.

Read the entire Eagle Tribune article.

120-Unit Affordable Apartment Complex to be Built Near NECC

The Eagle Tribune reported that in late winter/early spring, construction is expected to be underway for a 120-unit apartment complex neighboring Northern Essex Community College in Haverhill.

The North Essex Crossing complex, being built by developers, Stephen Stapinski of Merrimack Engineering Services and King Weinstein of King Real Estate in Haverhill, was originally approved in 2001 by the Zoning Board of Appeals, and will be built on Route 110, between Wannalancet Road and Airport Lane, less than a quarter-mile from Interstate 495, near Greenleaf Gardens landscaping center and Haverhill Crossings, an assisted-living complex that houses mostly elders.

The development calls for 90 market-rate apartments renting for about $1,500 per month and 30 affordable units that will cost about $950 per month. People with incomes no higher than 80% of the region's median income are eligible for the affordable units.

Read the entire Eagle Tribune article

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.

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

November 9, 2007 Legislative Breakfast

On Friday, November 9th, NSAR sponsored its 4th Legislative Breakfast in 2007, attended by State Senator Steven Baddour (D-1st Essex) and State Representative Harriett Stanley (D-2nd Essex).

The Breakfast was held at ABC Home Inspections, Inc. and ABC Real Estate Training Institute in Haverhill; NSAR would like to thank Affiliate Member Andy Consoli for allowing us to use his conference room and facilities (seen here).

MAR Associate Counsel, Margy Grant, presented the five legislative topics on the agenda and gave the legislators the Realtor® position on each issue. These issues included:

1. Transfer Taxes. Realtors® oppose real estate transfer taxes as bad tax policy for several reasons including: a community wide responsibility should be paid for by the entire community; a transfer tax is inequitable and discriminatory as it singles out a small segment of the population [specifically home buyers & sellers] to pay for a community wide need; a transfer tax is exclusionary because it would increase the cost of home ownership; a transfer tax would be an unstable source of revenue due to the instability of the real estate market; a transfer tax would subvert the Proposition 2 ½ override process; the state legislature has already given cities and towns many equitable tools to create affordable and workforce housing through passage of Community Preservation Act, Chapter 40B, and Chapter 40R and 40S.

2. An Act Protecting Children from Poisoning. Proposed legislation SB. 1230 would (a) require lead inspections on all sales of property, instead of at the buyer’s option; (b) require owners and sellers of property to abate lead in soil and tap water; and (c) require letters of compliance for rental units to be renewed every two years, regardless of whether children reside in the unit, or whenever there is a change in occupancy, if that is earlier.

3. An Act Providing Information to Real Estate Buyers. Proposed legislation H. 323, S. 201 is a little unclear but seems to suggest that a homeowner would be expected to review the databases of nearly a dozen different governmental agencies and then create some type of report or hire and pay someone to do it for them. It is not clear how many millions of dollars this could cost Massachusetts homeowners every year or that buyers and sellers could review this data and provide an accurate assessment of what implications, if any, information on one of these databases would have on a home.

4. An Act Relative to the Disclosure of Wetlands on Property. Proposed legislation H. 767 seeks to require that a real estate broker disclose to prospective buyers that a property to be sold may be in its entirety, or in part a wetland as defined in Chapter 131 of the General Laws of or any other regulation or local by-law of the municipality where the property is located. It is the Realtor® position that however well intentioned this proposal may be, it would create an impossible standard for real estate licensees to meet and generate confusion for consumers.

5. An Act Relative to Smart Growth Housing Trust Fund (S. 132) and An Act Relative to Financing the Smart Growth Housing Trust (H. 160). Realtors® support both these bills, as it would create a steady stream of revenue to support the continued success of 40R Smart Growth districts.

Boxford, North Andover Group Fight Booster Station

According to the Salem News, a group of Boxford and North Andover residents, Citizens Against Proposed Boxford Gas Compressor Station, will be fighting a proposed natural gas pipeline booster station on land bordering North Andover and Haverhill.

According the group’s website, “Algonquin Gas Transmission, LLC is proposing a 15,000 HP Compressor Station addition to the current natural gas pipeline that would be located in Boxford adjacent to the Far Corner Golf Course. This proposed location is near the North Andover and Haverhill borders. The site is not far from dozens of homes as well as Brooks School. This project has immense potential to negatively impact our communities.”

Read the entire Salem News article

Next Legislative Breakfast: Friday, November 9, 2007, 8:30am

The next North Shore Association of Realtors® Legislative Breakfast will be held on Friday, November 9, 2007, from 8:30am to 10:00am. All NSAR members who live in Amesbury, Georgetown, Groveland, Haverhill, Merrimac, Newburyport, North Andover, and/or West Newbury are encouraged to attend.

Topics will likely include:

1. Transfer Taxes.
2. An Act Protecting Children from Poisoning (SB. 1230)
3. An Act Providing Information to Real Estate Buyers. (H. 323, S. 201)
4. An Act Relative to the Disclosure of Wetlands on Property. (H. 767)
5. An Act Relative to Smart Growth Housing Trust Fund (S. 132) and An Act Relative to Financing the Smart Growth Housing Trust (H. 160).

Sign up today using this form, by calling 978-232-9410, or by emailing Jeff@NorthShoreRealtors.com!

Please note: this Legislative Breakfast will be at ABC Real Estate Training Institute, 21 Wingate Street in Haverhill.

For directions, click here.

$30 million Renaissance Golf Club to Stay in Haverhill

The Eagle Tribune reports that Haverhill’s Renaissance Golf Club, once in potential danger of not being finished, is definitely going to stay. Renaissance is Haverhill’s fifth 18-hole golf course − the others being Bradford Country Club, Haverhill Country Club, Crystal Springs Golf Course and Far Corners. The city also has the smaller 9-hole Murphy's Garrison Par 3.

Investors will be building a massive $9,800 square foot clubhouse, which will feature a grill, top-floor lounge, Great Room, fitness center, locker rooms for men and women, executive offices and a massage room. The Renaissance course sprawls across 197 acres in the rural Kenoza Street neighborhood in eastern Haverhill.

Read the Eagle Tribune article

Affordable Housing available at Riverside Place in Haverhill

The Eagle Tribune reported on October 23, 2007 that 3 affordable housing condominium units will soon be made available for sale at Riverside Place on Washington Place in Haverhill.

The condominium units will be selling for $181,395 under the city’s affordable housing ordinance, which requires all new housing developments that need special permit approval to set aside at least 10% of the housing for low- to moderate-income buyers.

The properties are being made available by Community Action in Haverhill.

Read the Eagle Tribune article

Haverhill Downtown Housing Planned or Underway

Here’s a list of recent/current housing construction/conversion in downtown Haverhill, according to the Eagle Tribune:

Beacon Companies: The Cordovan at Haverhill Station, 146 apartments at 16 Walnut St.

Beacon Companies: Haverhill Lofts, 32 artist loft apartments at 25 Locust St.

Forest City Enterprises: Convert the Stoller Building, 113 Essex St. (former Hamel Leather Co. factory) into 243 one- and two-bedroom apartments. Convert Lagasse Building at 10 Duncan St. to 60 apartments.

Franchi Management Inc.: Built Riverside Place, 53 condos at 66 Washington St.

Friends Landing proposal: Developer Frank Franzone of Engineered Concrete Products in Haverhill wants to build a 60-unit condominium complex at 85 Water St., former site of Friend's Landing lounge.

D&D Realty Trust: Three condos at Washington Street, near the Comeau Bridge by Richard Early Jr.

Lotus Realty of Portsmouth: 61 condos at 98-108 Essex Street, next to Smith’s Tavern.

Old factory on Granite Street: 57 apartments at the Charles Hayes Building, 14-36 Granite St. Affiliated with the Boston Archdiocese.

Merrimack Towers: Developer Steve Doherty plans 136 condominiums for 31-35 Railroad Ave., the old Ornsteen Shoe factory on the Bradford side of Merrimack River.

Total: 851 units

Read the Eagle Tribune article

Haverhill Downtown Condo Developer to Remove Falling Windows

The Eagle Tribune reported that a downtown Haverhill condominium developer will be removing windows due to them falling off the building and onto the street, posing a significant safety risk to Haverhill residents and visitors.

Following an inspection by City Officials, Developers Angela and Sean Chen of Lotus Realty of Portsmouth, who plan to convert an old factory at 98-108 Essex Street into sixty-one condominiums, agreed to remove the windows immediately. This factory is next to Smith’s Tavern.

The Eagle Tribune reported that the Chens will be removing as many as 300 of the old windows from the building. The condominium project is currently old on due to the current real estate market, but the developers plan on completing the conversion.

Read the Eagle Tribune Article

Haverhill, Neighbors fight Proposed 40B Project

The Eagle Tribute reported that developer Brian Donahue, of Donahue Builders in Tewksbury, plans to ask the Commonwealth to approve a 32-unit condominium complex under the state’s Affordable Housing law, Chapter 40B.

The development would be built off Route 97 in the Western part of the City. Chapter 40B allows developers to circumvent local zoning rules in exchange for building housing with at least 25% affordable units in communities with less than 10% of affordable housing stock. According to the Tribune, Haverhill has more affordable housing than most of its surrounding communities, however the stock is currently about 9.5%, which is not enough to block a Chapter 40B proposal.

Mayor James Fiorentini is promising to fight Donahue’s proposal if it comes before the City.

Read the entire article.