GA Blog: Haverhill

1.11.12 Haverhill Looks to Develop Forgotten End of Downtown

The Eagle Tribune recently reported that the Haverhill Mayor and city leaders are looking towards developing the Merrimack Street side of downtown Haverhill in 2012.  City officials are working to develop new rules that would make it faster and easier to develop in existing buildings on the Merrimack Street side of downtown.

The western end of the downtown on Washington Street has been one of Haverhill’s larger successes over the past five years, with several restaurants, shops and apartments sprouting up recently.  Now the city hopes to turn the same attention towards the somewhat forgotten end of the downtown as well as an area across the river in Bradford.

The city’s zoning task force is working on making it easier for developers to create mix-use projects with both office space and housing. Current rules allow such projects, but it is difficult and uncertain to obtain the permit required by the city council to move forward.

"The more developers know what they can do up front, the more likely they are to invest in Merrimack Street and the riverfront," said Mayor James Fiorentini. "We could allow mixed use as a matter of right."

Some changes the mayor is considering include easing parking regulations and allowing developers to build more housing on less land.

Read the entire Eagle Tribune article.

1.2.12 Haverhill Paperboard Site Purchased by Developer

The Eagle Tribune recently reported that the Haverhill Paperboard Site, 23 acres located along the Merrimack River on the Bradford side, has been purchased by the Barrow Development Group which plans to change the sites name to Pentucket Park.

The lot located on South Kimball Street was home to Haverhill Paperboard, a factory that manufactured paperboard from recycled paper for over 100 years at the location. The factory closed in 2008 and nearly 200 workers lost their jobs.

The developer has not yet decided what to do with the property which could be used to commercial, residential or recreational space. City Mayor James Fiorentini believe that the developer will work well with the city and hopes that Haverhill residents will have access to the river through the site.

In a statement to the Eagle Tribune, Brian Wilson, who heads the development group, stated that the project “will focus on repositioning the existing, functionally obsolete site to achieve the highest and best use for the property,” and that the group is “committed to transforming the project into a performing asset that contributes to the already-thriving downtown district of Haverhill."

Read the entire Eagle Tribune article.

12.16.11 Haverhill Looks to Planning Professionals for Downtown Ideas

The Eagle Tribune recently reported that a group of urban planners, including architects and engineers, walked the streets of downtown Haverhill looking for ways to improve the Merrimack Street end of downtown, as well some areas on the Bradford side of the Merrimack River.

The Urban Land Institute, a non-profit research and education organization, agreed to work with Haverhill in developing a plan for the downtown area. About 20 planning professionals met in Haverhill to view the areas of interest and attend an all day seminar for discussion. The group will be sending Haverhill a 25-30 page report giving design ideas, plans, and “alternative ideas.”

"Haverhill has a downtown with a lot of potential," said Barry Abramson, and expert in urban re-development and a member of the group. "In a lot of downtowns in New England, you have to build from scratch. Here, you already have so much vitality on the Washington Street side, there's real potential to extend that. And if you could access this river to a more meaningful way, you'd really have something here."

Read the entire Eagle Tribune article.

12.12.11 Haverhill Mayor Looks to Buy Land For Rail Trail Parking

The Eagle Tribune recently reported that the Mayor of Haverhill, James Fiorentini, is interested in purchasing a 30,000-square foot parcel of land for the city to pave a parking lot and create a main entrance to the Bradford Rail Trail.

The Bradford Rail Trail follows the Merrimack River for roughly a half mile on the Bradford side of the river.  The trail was built on land that was purchased from the Pan Am Railways by Haverhill in 2008 for $500,000. The land of interest is also owned by Pan Am Railways. Although the city of Haverhill does have some grant money to improve the rail trail, it is unclear if that money can go towards the purchasing of new land for the parking lot.

"The land would provide greater access and parking areas for users of the rail trail, which continues to grow in popularity," Fiorentini said of the new piece of land. "The neighbors of the rail trail, whose success is so critical to the project, have expressed a desire for the city to obtain additional off-street parking for the users of the trail."

The Mayor told the Haverhill city council that a decision should be made quickly, as it is believed that Pan Am Railways will look for other buyers in the near future. The price of the land is set at $65,000 and is said to be non-negotiable.

Read the entire Eagle Tribune article.

12.5.11 Haverhill YMCA Opens Day Care in Historic Building

The Eagle Tribune recently reported that the old Whittier Building next to the YMCA on Winter Street has been purchased by the YMCA, and will be turned into a preschool for children aged 2-6. The building was most recently used as the headquarters for the Greater Haverhill Chamber of Commerce.

YMCA Director Tracy Fuller signed a long-term lease for the Whittier Building with Historic Haverhill Inc., the owners of the building.

The children’s center and day care service is now serving between 40 and 50 children in the downtown location, where before they had been at a Groveland facility. The YMCA has fully renovated the first floor of the building, and hopes to raise enough money to renovate that second floor as well.

Read the entire Eagle Tribune article.

11.18.11 Haverhill Parking Garage Opens in Busy Downtown Area

After over a year of construction the Merrimack Valley Regional Transit Authority parking garage in Haverhill was finally completed and opened for business in early November, reported the Eagle Tribune, November 2, 2011.

The $11 million project adds 315 parking spaces in one of Haverhill’s busiest downtown areas. Majority of the funds for the project came from federal transportation money.

"This is a great day for our city, a transformative day that caps many years of hard work and effort by so many people," said Mayor James Fiorentini while leading the opening ceremonies.

The City of Haverhill and local business owners are excited to see the impact of the new parking garage. The new spaces are expected to attract more commuters and visitors to the busy downtown area.

Read the entire Eagle Tribune article.