GA Blog: Saugus

12.24.10 Saugus Historical Site May Be Home to a New Park

The Lynn Item reports that the Saugus Historical Commission is looking to build a small park on the historically significant hill located on Hamilton Street. The hill, which is said to be the site of many buried native American artifacts, is located just behind the public safety building. The Historical Commission believes that creating an area that highlights the hills historical relevance would be an important step in preserving the location. 

The hill is believed to have been a sacred meeting place to local Native Americans. Montowampate , the Indian who owned the territory now known as Saugus, allowed settlers to move into his land. Both the hill and Montowampate are now depicted on the town seal.

The plans for the park are considered passive, only calling for a few steps, benches, a sign describing the area’s history and possibly a small wall surrounding the area. Future plans may involve a path that leads to the top of the hill. As of October there was no real opposition to the project plans.  The Historical Commission is not looking to the city for funding but plans to ask for donations for construction.

Read the entire Lynn Item article.

3.8.09 SoftSecond Loans Enhanced for Foreclosed Properties in Hardest Hit Areas

The Massachusetts Housing Partnership recently announced that beginning April 1, 2009, a new enhanced version of SoftSecond can be used by qualified homebuyers looking to purchase foreclosed condominiums, single-family, two-family and three-family homes in neighborhoods hardest-hit by foreclosure. This new enhanced version waives SoftSecond’s first-time homebuyer requirement and raises the household income limit to under 120% of area median in designated census tracts in 39 communities that are eligible for federal Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) funding, including Billerica, Chelsea, Dracut, Haverhill, Lawrence, Lowell, Lynn, Methuen, Peabody, Revere, Salem, Saugus and Somerville.

Grant awards will range from up to $20,000 for single-family homes and up to $40,000 for two- and three-family homes in neighborhoods that are eligible for NSP rehabilitation grants.  SoftSecond can also be used in combination with any rehabilitation financing offered by lenders.

For more information, click on this link and also this link.

10.9.07 October 4, 2007 Legislative Breakfast

On October 4, 2007, NSAR hosted its second Legislative Breakfast in 2007. The event was attended by State Representative Doug Petersen (D-8th Essex), Tom Damario, Aide to Representative Robert Fennell (D-10th Essex), and Josh Harold, Aide to Representative Steven Walsh (D-11th Essex).

State Senate was in session, so unfortunately Senator Thomas M. McGee (D-3rd Essex & Middlesex) and Senator Richard R. Tisei (R-Middlesex & Essex) were unable to attend.

MAR Associate Counsel Margy Grant presented the Realtor® position on the following topics:

1. New proposed Transfer Taxes (S. 1776; S. 1773; H. 3959)
2. New proposed Lead Paint law (SB. 1230)
3. New proposed mandatory Seller’s disclosure in connection with environmental issues (H. 323, S. 201)
4. New proposed mandatory disclosures for real estate licensees in connection with Wetlands (H. 767)
5. Smart Growth funding for Chapter 40R (S. 132, H. 160)

NSAR and the Government Affairs Committee extends a sincere appreciate to the legislators who participated and to all those that attended.

9.26.07 Next Legislative Breakfast: Thursday, October 4, 2007, 8:30am

The next North Shore Association of Realtors® Legislative Breakfast will be held on Thursday, October 4, 2007, from 8:30am to 10:00am. All NSAR members who live in Lynn, Saugus, Lynnfield, Marblehead, Swampscott, and/or Nahant 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).

Click here to registry of get more information.