GA Blog: Topsfield

5.10.10 Topsfield Voters Shoot Down Property Tax Override

The Tri-Town Transcript reported that in a rare move, Topfield voters frustrated over the status quo recently voted to deny a temporary $93,500 property tax override and elected a write-in Selectman candidate (Eldon Goodhue) over incumbent Karen Dowthrough.  This resulted from a groundswell of support from a grassroots campaign started just a week before elections.

Read the entire Tri-Town Transcript article.

3.3.10 Topsfield Rail Trail

According to the Tri-Town Transcript, Topsfield selectmen may have struck a deal that will lead to the a new rail trail on the abandoned section of railroad tracks that run from Summer Street to the Wenham town line.  Nevada-based non-profit Iron Horse Preservation Society has offered to remove all the track and ties from nearly two miles of abandoned railroad at no cost to the town.

Iron Horse is a group that extracts railroad infrastructure across the country and sells the metal for barriers along the U.S.-Mexico border.  In return, the Topsfield Rail Trail may receive a trail suitable for biking without any of the cost or effort.

Recently the Rail Trail Committee finished Phase 1 of the Rail Trail, a roughly half-mile section of roadway that runs from Washington Street to Summer Street.

Read the entire Tri-Town Transcript article.

1.13.09 Topsfield “Doctor Rogers” House Torn Down

 

The Tri-Town Transcript reported that the roughly 170-year-old house at 59 Main Street in Topsfield, known as the “Doctor Rogers” property, was torn down recently by developer Edmund LeClair, who is reportedly planning on replacing the house with condominiums.

Read the entire Tri-Town Transcript article.

1.5.09 New Meadows Development in Topsfield

According to the Tri-Town Transcript, Developer Ara Aftandilian hopes to resolve recent financing issues that are causing a temporarily delay in the construction of a combination office/retail building at 17/19 Main Street in Topsfied that is expected to be the future home of New Meadows Market. The developer is hoping to complete the 3-story downtown Topsfield building by April 2009.

Read the entire Tri-Town Transcript article.

5.5.08 Topsfield Planning Board Member Departing

Attention is now starting to be noticed locally since the presidential primaries are behind us. According to the Tri-Town Transcript, candidates in Topsfield/Boxford/Middleton are starting to get noticed despite that selectmen, school committee's and planning boards are all running unopposed in Middleton,Boxford and Topsfield. Topsfield planning board is seeing one term end for a dedicated member due to by-laws restricting a fourth term.

Read the entire Tri-Town Transcript article.

3.4.08 28-mile Bike Trail to Run From Boxford Through Newburyport

According to the Georgetown Record, MassHighway is moving forward on a proposed 28-mile bike trail set to run through Georgetown, agreeing to perform and fund 25% design work on the Border to Boston Trail. The trail will run on top of the historic and abandoned Maine to Boston railway, running from Salisbury to the Danvers/Peabody border. The proposed trail is set to run through Boxford, Danvers, Georgetown, Newbury, Newburyport, Salisbury, Topsfield and Wenham.

The trail has been earmarked for $800,000 of federal safety funding to do the design work, secured by U.S. Rep. John Tierney in 2005. The final cost to complete the 25% design work is expended to exceed nearly $1 million, but MassHighway hopes to be able to provide the balance of funds needed for the project. MassHighway has begun the process of hiring a qualified consultant for the design, which is expected to be complete by the summer of 2009.

Read the entire Georgetown Record article.