GA Blog: Danvers

8.29.11 $23.1 Million Construction Project on Route 128 ramps in Danvers

The Danvers Herald recently reported that Route 128 is undergoing a $23.1 million project that is constructing new on-ramps and off- ramps at two Danvers locations, interchanges at Route 35 and Route 62.  The project also includes the building of retaining walls, noise barriers, as well as a replacement bridge for a section spanning an unused MBTA railroad.

Contractors have already removed roughly 4,100 tons of contaminated soil to an out of state disposal facility, while Danvers Electric and a traffic signal sub contractor have been working on installing overhead poles and masts at project intersections.

The on-ramp from Route 35 eastbound to Route 128 south and the off-ramp from Route 128 south to Route 35 eastbound should remain closed throughout construction. There may also be periodic lane closures during the week that will be scheduled between 9:30 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Read the entire Danvers Herald article.

8.1.11 $23.1 Million Construction Project on Route 128 ramps in Danvers

The Danvers Herald recently reported that Route 128 is undergoing a $23.1 million project that is constructing new on-ramps and off- ramps at two Danvers locations, interchanges at Route 35 and Route 62.  The project also includes the building of retaining walls, noise barriers, as well as a replacement bridge for a section spanning an unused MBTA railroad.

Contractors have already removed roughly 4,100 tons of contaminated soil to an out of state disposal facility, while Danvers Electric and a traffic signal sub contractor have been working on installing overhead poles and masts at project intersections.

The on-ramp from Route 35 eastbound to Route 128 south and the off-ramp from Route 128 south to Route 35 eastbound should remain closed throughout construction. There may also be periodic lane closures during the week that will be scheduled between 9:30 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Read the entire Danvers Herald article.

6.8.11 Danvers Affordable Housing Trust Formed

The Danvers Herald recently reported that the Town Meeting on May 16th, passed a warrant article that established an affordable housing trust. The trust will be put in place so the city can “acquire property to further the town’s affordable housing goals.” The warrant article passed with a 76 to 35 vote.

The largest concerns among town meeting attendees about the affordable housing trust were that the city would start acting like a real estate agent and landlord to the acquired homes.

“We’re not trying to create anything new,” said Selectman Gardner Trask, a member of the Affordable Housing Committee. “The intent of the trust to facilitate the purchase and sale of property to meet our affordable housing goals to private developers and private owners who can’t own property on their own,” said Trask. “One of the tools to meet local control and meet a social need. This trust is not intended to be a real estate agent or a landlord. The trust is completely independent of the town.”

Read the entire Danvers Herald article.

6.1.11 MBTA Bus Route Coming to Danvers and Possibly to Beverly Commuter Rail Station

The Beverly Citizen recently reported that a new MBTA bus line may be coming to Danvers and possibly the Beverly Depot commuter rail station. The proposed route would focus on several stops throughout Danvers, as well as the North Shore Community College.

The MBTA had once offered a similar route, however, it was cancelled in 2002 for low ridership. State Rep. Ted Speliotis (D-Danvers) believes that the new route would be a success due to new developments and expansions at Danvers State Hospital, Conifer Hill, and the North Shore Community College.

The bus would also have stops at the Essex Agricultural and Technical School, Saint John’s Preparatory School, Essex County Corrections in Middleton, the Danvers Group Home, CAB Health Services on Middleton Road, Danvers Plaza and Beverly Hospital at Danvers.

Read the entire Beverly Citizen article.

4.7.11 Danvers Retirement Community

The North Shore Chamber of Commerce Economic Development & Public Policy Blog recently reported on a new retirement community being developed on Conant Street near the Beverly-Danvers line.

The $15 million development, Colonial Gardens, will consist of a four-story building with 155 apartments and nine other “cottages” with another 18 apartments. The community is scheduled to open in fall 2011 and will include a movie theater, a gym, bus transportation and a full-time activities director and a dining room, “which will feature two wall-to-ceiling fireplaces.”

Hawthorn Retirement Group, out of Washington State, is developing the project which will be their first in Massachusetts. Currently the company owns and operates 39 retirement communities in the U.S. and Canada.

"Looking at the demographics, there's a need for the number of seniors that are in the area," said Larry Wright, Hawthorn's director of marketing. "There's a lot of need so we're excited to be here." The 2010 US census showed that the over-60 population in Beverly will grow 60 percent for men and 30 percent for women by 2020.

To read more about Colonial Gardens click here.

3.24.11 CHAPA meeting in Danvers on 40B

The Citizens' Housing and Planning Association (CHAPA) has scheduled a series of free community meetings as a follow-up to the “No on 2” Campaign; the successful effort to preserve Chapter 40B, the state’s primary tool for producing affordable housing for working families and seniors.

The agenda includes: what is happening in your community; advancing housing initiatives locally; and advancing affordable housing policy statewide. One of their meetings will be in Danvers on March 29th

For more information, click here and here.