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4.30.10 Danvers Rail Trail Update

The Danvers Herald reports that development of the Danvers Rail Trail is coming along. The rails along 4.3 miles of the old Newburyport railroad line in Danvers will be pulled up shortly, according to the Danvers Rail Trail Advisory Committee (featured above).

The committee thanked the Iron Rail Preservation Society, who is paying for the project (it will not cost Danvers taxpayers anything). The Iron Horse Preservation group has also completed a 3,000-foot trail in Topsfield, which is its second project in Massachusetts; they gives some of the rails to the federal government, which uses them for a barrier to vehicles trying to cross from Mexico. Iron Horse also sells them to other businesses, which use the old iron for other projects.

The rail bed goes from Peabody to Wenham. Other such rail trail advocates in neighboring towns are also hard at work to make their own recreational pathways where railroad trains once roared, so that one day one could walk — or bike ride — all the way from Salisbury to Boston.

Read the entire Danvers Herald article.

4.29.10 Ipswich Affordable Housing Development

Ipswich YMCA

According to the Ipswich Chronicle, construction on Powderhouse Village, a new 48-unit affordable housing development in Ipswich, could begin as early as May 2010. The Chapter 40B housing project will be made up of two buildings, each three-stories high. One building with 30 units will be constructed on the Millstone property at 108 County Road across the street from Agawam Village. The other, to be built at 112 County Road where the yellow building (above) presently sits, will have 18 units plus a YMCA day-care facility. In all, there will be 10, one-bedroom apartments, 24, two-bedroom apartments and 14, three-bedroom apartments.

Chapter 40B, the state’s affordable housing law states that 10% of a town’s housing stock must be affordable — defined by combination of housing prices and a community’s median income. If not, a developer can propose project containing affordable housing that is not bound by the town’s local zoning requirements.

Read the entire Ipswich Chronicle article.

4.28.10 Hamilton Town Meeting Discusses Meal Tax to Build Up Downtown

The Hamilton-Wenham Chronicle reported recently that Hamilton Town Meeting voters were considering creating a stabilization fund, then adopting a local meals tax, 100% of which would be used to support revitalizing the downtown area.

The proposal was intended to benefit restaurant owners with more business, residents with a more friendly downtown and the community in general with more businesses and customers in Hamilton, supporting tax revenue.

Read the entire Hamilton-Wenham Chronicle article.

4.10.10 Route 114 Chapter 40B Housing in Danvers on Hold

The Danvers Herald reports that the Danvers Zoning Board of Appeals continued a proposed Chapter 40B condominium development to development the site at the former Rio Grande on Route 114 in Danvers which would provide 71 condominiums – 17 affordable housing units (25% of the total).

Chapter 40B requires a municipality to have 10% of its property affordable for low- and moderate-income people. If not, a developer is allowed to bypass most local zoning requirements in return for making 25% of the units affordable.

Read the entire Danvers Herald article.

4.9.10 Affordable Housing & Recreation Land in Boxford

According to the Tri-Town Transcript, the next Boxford Town Meeting in May will look at three proposed land division articles put forth from the Haynes Land Advisory Committee. The proposal, which also already gone through an informal process with the Conservation Commission, is asking Boxford voters to officially split the 75-acres of land into a passive recreation parcel, an active recreation parcel, and an affordable housing parcel. Boxford town officials first proposed the separate articles after a joint article narrowly failed approval during the last fall Town Meeting.

If approved, the warrant article asking to designate nearly 26 acres of the Haynes land as a recreation parcel would place the piece of land in the custody of the Boxford Athletic Association. The article asking for the splitting of conservation land would put the parcel in the custody of the Boxford Trails Association/Boxford Open Land Trust. The 13-acre housing parcel would stay under the control of the Selectmen.

Read the entire Tri-Town Transcript article.

3.28.10 Crystal Springs Gold Course in Haverhill Sold – New Development

Crystal Springs Golf Course in Haverhill

According to the Eagle Tribune, local contractor Michael Maroney has purchased the 137-acre Crystal Springs Golf Course in Haverhill for $3.75 million.

Maroney, who has operated Maroney Construction Co. Inc. in Haverhill for 33 years, said he plans to enhance the public 18-hole course (which will be ready for golf by April 1st), erect a new clubhouse and build 50 homes on 13 acres, while maintaining the bulk of the property as open space.

The development also calls for Maroney to make several improvements to the North Broadway area. Current plans are to build 12 homes in 2010.

Read the entire Eagle Tribune article.