North Shore Association of REALTORS® GA Blog

Linebrook Road Override on Ipswich Ballot

Tue, 21 May 2013 12:00:00 EDT

The Ipswich Chronicle reports that Ipswich voters will to go the pols today (7am-8pm at the Ipswich YMCA, 110 County Road) to decide only issue on the ballot: whether to approve a Proposition 2½ debt exclusion override for $3 million to improve Linebrook Road.

The money would go to repave the road, repave the Doyon School parking lot and improve sidewalks on Linerook and widen the shoulder for improved bicycle safety. The final plan would go to public hearings before approval.

Read the entire Ipswich Chronicle article.

Salem Waterfront Power Plant Development

Tue, 14 May 2013 12:00:00 EDT

The Salem News reports that the Salem, MA Planning Board recently hosted its second public hearing on Footprint Power’s proposal to develop Salem Harbor Station, a 65-acre waterfront site, a plan that includes the construction of a $800 million natural gas-fired power plant.

Information that came out of the planning meeting:

There are absolutely no plans for housing in future phases of the development
The majority of the site that remains after the power plant is built will be targeted for marine, industrial and commercial development
Salem residents are not going to see a “housing complex, hotels or casinos,” said Scott Silverstein, Footprint’s president. “That’s not happening here.”
The demolition and construction will be done in stages, Kinkela said, beginning in August and ending in April 2016. The new plant is slated to open two months later in June.

There was also a discussion about the safety an environmental ramifications of the natural gas power plant.

Read the entire Salem News article.

Downtown Arts Scene in Lynn

Tue, 07 May 2013 12:00:00 EDT

The Lynn Item reports that downtown Lynn is beginning to develop into an art scene with increased community activities. A little over a year ago, the Commonwealth designated downtown Lynn as an official Cultural District. Immediately afterwards Lynn Museum, EDIC and the LynnArts applied for a state grant with an eye on establishing a plan and branding the new designation, with the goal of promoting more community activities in the area.

One event the community collective plans to reintroduce to the downtown is Third Thursdays, held in Central Square on the third Thursday of each month during the spring, summer and fall months featuring events like the popular pizza cook-off and the Dog Days of Summer with the doggy parade.

Read the entire Lynn Item article.

Manchester Essex Conservation Trust - 50th Anniversary

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 12:00:00 EDT

According to the Gloucester Times, the Manchester Essex Conservation Trust celebrated its 50th year of land protection and property conservation.

The MECT owns about 3,500 acres of protected land, most notably the Manchester Essex Woods. In the last few decades, the Trust has been deeded several parcels of land as gifts throughout the year, and it also makes property purchases, including a 150 acre parcel purchased roughly five years ago.

Trust president Charlie Kellogg said the trust has changed throughout the years, While its first incarnations were only geared toward preserving land for development, the trust has grown to recognize the fledgling wildlife in conservation lands and has made efforts to preserve the flora and fauna as well.

Read the entire Gloucester Times article.

Haverhill To Alter Zoning for Riverside Development

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 12:00:00 EDT

The Eagle Tribune reports that Haverhill Mayor James Fiorentini plans to alter the zoning around the Merrimack River to redevelop several former industrial sites, including efforts to the Ornstein Heel property in Bradford. In addition to the Ornsteil Heel lot, the Mayor is hoping to develop the following areas:

Portions of Merrimack Street to allow artist lofts housing and office space on upper floors of under-used buildings and retail businesses on first floors
On Water Street, the plan is to encourage residential and retail development. Included are the 1.1-acre property commonly known as the old Cleary’s Cleaners and the old Skelley’s gas station property
Closer to downtown is the property that formerly held the Friend’s Landing night club
The large property known as the old Taylor-Goodwin lumberyard site on the Bradford side of the river near the Basiliere Bridge

Fiorentini said he plans to appoint a new zoning advisory committee to develop a so-called “innovation district” modeled after the one in Boston.

Read the entire Eagle Tribune Article.

Ipswich's Whittier Motel

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 12:00:00 EDT

According to the Ipswich Chronicle, the Whittier Motel on County Road in Ipswich is expanding to 40 rooms. In December, the Planning Board granted owner Roger LeBlanc a special permit to build a 10-room addition along Essex Avenue where the swimming pool used to be.

The Whittier Motel is presently zoned as a motel, which prohibits long-term rentals. However, there are many long-term rentals at the motel which may pose a zoning violation. Additionally, several of the rooms have kitchen equipped for eating and cooking. The owner of the property is working with the Ipswich Planning Board to resolve these issues.

Read the entire Ipswich Chronicle article.

240 Apartments Planned for Route 114 in North Andover

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 12:00:00 EDT

According to the North Andover Citizen, developer North Andover Holdings LLC is planning on building a Chapter 40B apartment complex along Route 114 in North Andover. The project is tentatively titled Riding Academy Preserve, which would be six-buildings feature 240 new apartments for rent, along the site of an old farm located at 16 Berry Street (pictured above).

The 40B permit, issued by the state’s Department of Housing and Community Development, allows a developer to consolidate and expedite the application process for building within a town provided they offer some portion their property at a reduced rate for lower income tenants. A town must allow developments bearing comprehensive permits to proceed if the community has yet to hit the state-mandated affordable housing quota. Communities need at least 10% of all property to be classified as affordable; North Andover is said to be around 6% and therefore subject to Chapter 40B.

North Andover Holdings plans to offer 60 apartments for lower rent in the development. A typical one-bedroom apartment in the complex would rent for $1463 at market value, but would cost $1091 at the affordable rate.

Read the entire North Andover Citizen article.

Salem Registry of Deeds Seeks Damages for Improper Filings

Tue, 05 Mar 2013 12:00:00 EST

The Eagle Tribune reports that John L. O’Brien, Register of Deeds for the Southern District of Essex County, recently filed for $1.3 million in restitution to clean up thousands of potentially invalid property documents affecting more than 9,500 pieces of property following the guilty plea of the owner of a reputed “robosigner” company. The filings of DocX, a Georgia-based company that created and signed mortgage and lien transfer documents for large banks and mortgage lenders nationwide, are all in doubt after DocX founder and chief executive Lorraine Brown pleaded guilty in November to federal fraud charges in Florida.

According to the Salem Five article, the South Essex (Salem) Registry of Deeds so far has identified 10,567 documents filed by DocX between 1998 to 2011, all of which the Registry considers suspect. O’Brien said in the filing that a fraudulent document in a chain of title puts a cloud over every subsequent valid property document, and could complicate homeowners trying to sell their properties, refinance their mortgage or extract equity from their properties. Many of the documents are mortgage assignments, which declares the sale of a mortgage from one company to another.

The $1.3 million restitution from DocX, which includes fees and the cost of the 2011 audit of documents, would be used to ensure banks create and file valid documents to replace the DocX documents. Attorney General Martha Coakley in December 2011 filed suit against five major banks for, among other things, “pervasive use of fraudulent documentation in the foreclosure process,” according to a press release from her office at the time.

Coakley’s office participated in a $25 billion state-federal settlement against those banks for claims that included fraudulent documents. The agreement earmarked $318 million for Massachusetts borrowers for refinancing, loan modifications and direct payments.

Read the entire Eagle Tribune article.

Greenbelt Works to Protect Ipswich Farmland

Tue, 26 Feb 2013 12:00:00 EST

The Tri-Town Transcript reports that the Essex County Greenbelt has been working to help farmers lease and buy farmland as a way to curb the reduction of farmland and support the next generation of farmers.

Nearly 25% of all the farmland in New England and New York are owned by farmers aged 65 and older; therefore ensuring that farmland stays in farming as it transfers ownership will be critical. The Farmland Advisors program, which advises on farmland transfer and farm access, will address this challenge through a series of progressive learning and networking opportunities, including webinars, a regional conference, and peer-to-peer exchanges about farmland and farm transfer issues.

Read the entire Tri-Town Transcript article.

81 Acres in Haverhill Preserved for Open Space

Tue, 19 Feb 2013 12:00:00 EST

According to the Eagle Tribune, 81 rural acres along Kingsbury Avenue in Haverhill will be placed into a conservation trust, preventing the land from ever being developed. Mayor James Fiorentini said the city will eventually turn part of the land into a public recreational area next to Chadwick Pond, where residents will go hiking, canoeing and kayaking.

The 81 acres of land will be granted to the nonprofit Essex County Greenbelt Association, the region’s premier non-profit land trust that works to conserve farmland, wildlife habitat and scenic landscapes. Since 1961, the group has conserved more than 15,000 acres and is responsible for 75% of all land in Essex County that has been protected in the last decade.

Read the entire Eagle Tribune article.

Beverly Receives $500,000 for Brimbal Avenue / Sohier Road Connector

Thu, 14 Feb 2013 12:00:00 EST

According to the Salem News, Beverly recently received a $500,000 grant from the MassWorks Infrastructure Program for the first phase of the Brimbal Avenue interchange project, a major project designed to ease traffic on the busy road and open up acres of nearby land to development.

Mayor Bill Scanlon stated that the money will help with designing and permitting, but the city is still awaiting word on its request for $5 million to actually begin construction.

The first phase of construction would consist of moving the connector road that links Sohier Road to Brimbal Avenue and widening a section of Brimbal Avenue. The road, which funnels vehicles that come from Route 128, now connects to Brimbal Avenue in front of the Vittori-Rocci Post. There are often long backups of cars attempting to get onto Brimbal Avenue.

The ramp would be moved about one-tenth of a mile down Sohier Road and would connect to Brimbal Avenue with traffic lights at both ends. The second, and much larger, phase of the project involves building a bridge from Brimbal Avenue over Route 128 to Dunham Road, two rotaries, and new ramps on and off the highway. Scanlon said that phase would cost about $20 million.

Read the entire Salem News article.

Boxford Man Elected as Trustee on National Trust for Historic Preservation Board

Thu, 07 Feb 2013 12:00:00 EST

The Tri-Town Transcript reports Larry Curtis of Boxford, president and managing partner of WinnDevelopment, has been elected to the Board of Trustees for the National Trust for Historic Preservation, a privately funded nonprofit organization committed to the preservation of America’s historic properties.

For more than 25 years, Curtis has led a wide range of real estate development and acquisition activities throughout his career, maintaining a primary focus on historic rehabilitation developments and the creation of affordable housing.

According to the Tri-Town Transcript, WinnDevelopment has a national reputation for completing historically sensitive renovation projects, including the adaptive re-use of historic buildings, with numerous properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The National Trust for Historic Preservation, a privately funded nonprofit organization, works to save America’s historic places.

Read the entire Tri-Town Transcript article.

Newburyport Increases Solar Energy Output

Thu, 24 Jan 2013 12:00:00 EST

According to the Daily News, Newburyport’s efforts to inspire homeowners and businesses to install solar arrays on their buildings have resulted in a 6-times increase in solar panel energy, in just six months.

Newburyport was one of 17 communities selected across the state to take part in Solarize Massachusetts, a state-run program that offered reduced costs and tax incentives for solar arrays. So far, 40 residences and 6 commercial buildings had solar arrays installed, but because of the size of the arrays, the energy produced breaks down to about 50/50 between residential and commercial.

Power produced goes directly into the home or business’s consumption. If it produces more than is consumed, the power goes out into the electric grid, and the customer gets a credit for the energy produced. The increase in solar energy is enough to power about 40 homes over the course of a year, according to statistics from the U.S. Energy Administration.

Read the entire Daily News article.

Downtown Salem Residential/Retail Development Proposed

Thu, 17 Jan 2013 12:00:00 EST

According to the Salem News, RCG, a Somerville developer with history in the City, is proposing to develop a $45 million project in the downtown Salem, MA with retail stores, offices, residences and possibly even a hotel.

The proposed 5-to-6-story building would be located on the edge of Mill Hill, bordered by Washington Street, Dodge Street and Dodge Street Court (on land that used to be Billy Ray’s Laundromat and a billiards parlor). The company bought the property in 2006 as part of a large $20 million downtown real estate deal.

RCG was the developer that transformed the old Salem Evening News into Tavern in the Square. The company also owns the City Hall Annex at 120 Washington St., with a number of restaurants on the ground floor.

RCG currently has to wait for the City Council to consider Mayor Kim Driscoll’s request to abandon a small section of a city parking lot along Washington Street, declare the land surplus and, eventually, put it up for sale.

The city would have to give up 38 metered parking spaces along Washington Street, but RCG has agreed to include at least that many public parking spaces in the 275-plus spaces planned for this development, officials said. According to the article, the 275 parking spaces would be provided on three levels incorporated into the development. There are no plans for underground parking or a stand-alone garage.

Read the entire Salem News article.

Rantoul Street Beverly Development Tax Discount

Thu, 10 Jan 2013 12:00:00 EST

The Salem News Reports that the Beverly City Council approved a measure that would give developers who are building housing on Rantoul Street the following tax breaks:

50-70% for the first five years
25-30% for the next five years
Exact percentage will be determined by the Mayor for each project

The tax breaks are designed to help revitalize Rantoul Street in the area around the MBTA station with a combination of residential and retail development. According to the article, Beverly is only the third community in Massachusetts to adopt the incentive under the Urban Center Housing Tax Increment Financing program.

The zone encompasses 45 parcels along Rantoul Street from Bow to Edwards streets. The tax incentive program must now be approved by the Commonwealth, after the City of Beverly submits a specific project proposal.

Read the entire Salem News article.

Fiscal Cliff Update - Real Estate

Wed, 02 Jan 2013 12:00:00 EST

On January 1 both the U.S. Senate and House passed H.R. 8, legislation to avert the so-called “fiscal cliff;” the bill will be signed shortly by President Barack Obama. Below is a summary of real estate related provisions in the bill.

1. Real Estate Tax Extenders

Mortgage Cancellation Relief is extended for one year to January 1, 2014
Deduction for Mortgage Insurance Premiums for filers making below $110,000 is extended through 2013 and made retroactive to cover 2012
15 year straight-line cost recovery for qualified leasehold improvements on commercial properties is extended through 2013 and made retroactive to cover 2012.
The 10% tax credit (up to $500) for homeowners for energy improvements to existing homes is extended through 2013 and made retroactive to cover 2012.

2. Return of the “Pease” limitations on itemized deductions for high income filers
Under the agreement the so called “Pease Limitations” that reduce the value of itemized deductions are permanently repealed for most taxpayers, but will be reinstituted for high income filers.

These limitations will only apply to individuals earning more than $250,000 and joint filers earning above $300,000. The thresholds have been increased and are indexed for inflation so will rise over time. Under the formula, filers gradually lose the value of their total itemized deductions up to a total of a 20% reduction.

These limits were first enacted in 1990 (named for the Ohio Congressman Don Pease who came up with the idea) and continued throughout the Clinton years. They were gradually phased out starting in 2003 and were completely eliminated in 2010-2012. NAR has never had an official position on Pease limitations.

The good news is that the reinstitution of these limits has far less impact on the mortgage interest deduction than a hard dollar deduction cap, percentage deduction cap, or reduction of the amount of MID that can be claimed.

3. Capital Gains
Capital Gains rate stays at 15% for those the top rate of $400,000 individual and $450,000 joint return. After that, any gains above those amounts will be taxed at 20%. The 250/500k exclusion for sale of principle residence remains in place.

4. Estate Tax
The first $5 million dollars in individual estates and $10 million for family estates are now exempted from the estate tax. After that the rate will be 40%, up from 35%. The exemption amounts are indexed for inflation.

Developer Wins Approval for Kenoza Lake Home in Haverhill

Tue, 13 Nov 2012 12:00:00 EST

According to the Eagle Tribune, the Haverhill City Council reversed its previous decisions and approved a developer’s plan to build a home on Amesbury Road across from the city’s main water supply.

The City approved a proposal to build a single-family home and garage across from Kenoza Lake, which they originally denied due to concerns about the project’s impact on the reservoir. The owner needed permission from City Council because his four-acre property at 90 Amesbury Road is within 500 feet of the lake.

Read the entire Eagle Tribune article.

Spring Street Building Permit in Beverly

Tue, 06 Nov 2012 12:00:00 EST

The Beverly Citizen reportedly recently that the building permit that was issued to the Beverly Housing Authority by building inspector Steve Frederickson to construction 2 multi-family units on Spring Street next to the Montserrat train station was revoked by the Beverly Zoning Board of Appeals.

The issue with the project was on the size of the lot. BHA officials said the lot is 20,165sf, exceeding the minimum zoning requirement of 20,000sf for a project of this magnitude. The Montserrat Neighborhood Group argues that the lot only meets that requirement because they are including part of the adjacent Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority train station parking lot.

Parking was also an issue that was discussed at the hearing.

Read the entire Beverly Citizen article.

“Revitalization Mural” in Beverly

Fri, 26 Oct 2012 12:00:00 EDT

The Beverly Citizen reports that a new 40’x5’ “Revitalization Mural”, sponsored by Beverly Main Streets, has been commission as a way to beautify the windows while the space is vacant. The location is the former Bell Market property at 206 Cabot Street in Beverly.

Beverly residents and professional artists Matthew and Margot Rogers are working on the mural. They describe it as a collaborative work that celebrates the growing creative economy. The new program to beautify the windows of unoccupied downtown storefronts is part of the Downtown 2020 vision to revitalize downtown Beverly.

Read the entire Beverly Citizen article.

Boxford Eminent Domain Land Taking

Thu, 18 Oct 2012 12:00:00 EDT

According to the Tri-Town Transcript, Boxford Selectman approved an eminent domain land-taking which includes a nearly19-acre land-locked parcel off Spofford Road that stretches from the back of Town Hall (pictured above) to Spofford Pond School to the landfill and North to the Georgetown line. The landlocked parcel was appraised at $126,000 and another $4,000 in legal fees was also allocated to buy the land with money from free cash.

At this time, the 19-acre parcel is used for the nature trail at Spofford Pond Elementary School, and a small corner of it sits on the town landfill.

Read the entire Tri-Town Transcript article.

Ipswich River Watershed Assoc. Awarded Grant

Mon, 15 Oct 2012 12:00:00 EDT

The Hamilton-Wenham Chronicle reports that the Ipswich River Watershed Association received a financial boost with a $25,850 grant from the Massachusetts Environmental Trust, which will allow the IRWA to conduct a comprehensive study of culverts and bridges in the Parker, Ipswich and Essex River watersheds (referred to as PIE-r-squared).

The study will score bridges and culverts based on how well they allow movement of fish and wildlife. The project team plans to visit and score at least 800 of the 1000 or more road-stream crossings in the 257-mile PIE-r-squared region. The survey results will be summarized in reports and made available to municipalities and other groups interested in improving habitat conditions in the region.

Read the entire Hamilton-Wenham Chronicle article.

Newburyport Riverfront Plan Takes Shape

Fri, 14 Sep 2012 12:00:00 EDT

The Newburyport Daily News recently reported that the Newburyport Redevelopment Authority released its plan for the central riverfront.

The proposal, which was created by an architecture group out of Providence, looks to add two new commercial buildings and green space while keeping roughly 70 percent of parking spaces. The buildings would hold commercial space on the bottom levels and would house somewhere between 30-35 living units total. The proposal is expected to pass in the near future.

The redevelopment authority is in the works of creating a request for proposal that would encourage developers to stick closely to their pre-established plan. The developers will be filling proposals for the development of the building lots only, and would not have any control over the parking and surrounding areas. The redevelopment authority expects it to take months to finish the RFP document.

Read the entire Newburyport Daily News article.

Long Vacant Haverhill Building Gets Renovations: 10 Rental Units to Come

Wed, 12 Sep 2012 12:00:00 EDT

The Eagle Tribune recently reported that a long-time vacant building on the outskirts of downtown Haverhill has finally been purchased and renovated to house 10 rental units. The city of Haverhill hopes that this development at 74 River Street will help rejuvenate the west end of the downtown, an area that is scattered with dingy storefronts and sits in the shadow of the successful Washington Street restaurant district.

The project was first started in 2005, but was left behind by the developer when he ran into problems with finding enough parking for the units. The new developer has settled this problem by purchasing a 6,300 square-foot lot from the city where he will create 10 parking spaces. The Washington Street spaces are roughly 200 yards away from the building, but there will be another 11 spaces on site for residents.

The developer of the project says that he already has tenants filling some of the 5-story building’s units, and expects the others to go quickly. Each unit is newly renovated and will feature a balcony overlooking the Merrimack River. There will be studios, two-bedroom, and three-bedroom apartments available.

Read the entire Eagle Tribune article.

Future Site of North Andover Historic School

Mon, 10 Sep 2012 12:00:00 EDT

The North Andover Board of Selectmen has recently discussed possibilities for development of the Bradstreet School lot, located at 70 Main Street in North Andover, according to the North Andover Citizen.

In a recent town meeting, several Selectmen voiced their opinions on what should be done with the over 100 year old building residing in the downtown North Andover area. The town was finalizing a request for proposals to purchase and develop the property that they will provide to interested developers. The document will have buyers provide information on how their development would affect the downtown area, in terms of traffic, noise and economic growth.

Among the Selectmen it was agreed that the language of the document should be as broad as possible as to not exclude any potential developers, most agreed that the appearance of the building should not be changed due to its historical significance in the town. A deadline for developer proposals has been set for October 17th.

Read the entire North Andover Citizen article.

Danvers Rail Trail Gets New Signage

Thu, 23 Aug 2012 12:00:00 EDT

The Danvers Herald recently reported that volunteers have dug holes and installed vertical rail posts that will soon be used to mount new signs along the Danvers Rail Trail, a popular walking and biking trail.

The 200 pound beams placed into the ground will hold new signage that was funded by a $2,500 Essex National Heritage Commission grant. The signs will commemorate the railroad in Danvers, covering the histories of the Danvers railroad, the Tapley Station, the Plains Station, and Grenville Dodge, the Union Pacific's chief engineer who was born in Danvers. The signs will utilize text, images and maps to educate trail visitors.

“I think it is exciting to be at a point in the project where we can add really nice details on the trail,” said Senior Planner Kate Day. “These signs are so interesting. The whole connection between the railroad and the path people find themselves on is often lost. But these signs tell the story of the railroad and how it changed the community and what it looks like now.”

Read the entire Danvers Herald article.

Abandoned Gas Station Site up for Auction in Bradford

Tue, 21 Aug 2012 12:00:00 EDT

The Eagle Tribune recently reported that the site of an abandoned gas station in Bradford will be up for auction, according to a sign that was placed on the parcel of land at 236 S. Elm Street. The site had been home to a Getty gas station until 2001 when construction of the Comeau Bridge caused the station to close due to the slowdown of traffic.

The sign that hangs on the site’s fence states that the owner will be accepting sealed bids for the land until October 2, 2012. The property has been owned by Leemilt’s Petroleum since 1986 and the auction will be ran by NRC Realty & Capital Advisors.

Haverhill Mayor James Fiorentini expressed his enthusiasm for the site being purchased and redeveloped, stating that he is looking forward to working with anyone that looks to “protect the public’s interest” with the project,” but also stated “the ultimate use of this property will be determined by market forces, not by the government.”

The 43,000 square foot lot is assessed by the city for $405,200, though NRC Realty & Capital Advisors say it will be accepting bids starting at $287,500. The owners pay roughly $10,000 a year for property taxes.

Read the entire Eagle Tribune article.

Danvers Receives Grant to Purchase Lebel’s Grove Land

Mon, 13 Aug 2012 12:00:00 EDT

The Danvers Herald recently reported that Danvers received $400,000 from the state to help purchase Lebel’s Grove, a 21.4-acre plot of land that borders the Ipswich River and Route 114. With a purchase price of $1,544,000, the grant covered more than one quarter of the price.

The land was purchased by the city in order to protect two city wells that reside on the outskirts of the property. The grant given to Danvers is one of just two grants given out by the state, the other to Worcester, to protect city drinking water.

“Cities and towns as well as our administration understand the value of our drinking water supply and land resources across the state,” said Lt. Gov. Timothy Murray. “That is why we are pleased to partner with the awarded communities to protect the integrity of local properties and ensure communities have clean and safe water.”

Lebel’s Grove is one of Danvers’ largest undeveloped parcels of land. Two wells that are vital water supplies to both Danvers and Middleton are just outside of the parcel’s borders, one on Andover Street and the other on Buxton Road.

Read the entire Danvers Herald article.

Beverly Looks to Adopt Community Preservation Act

Wed, 08 Aug 2012 12:00:00 EDT

The Beverly Citizens recently reported that the city of Beverly will be voting on a Community Preservation Act that would add a 1 percent surcharge on property taxes in order to create a dedicated fund for community projects such as parks, playgrounds, open space, historic buildings and affordable housing.

If Beverly passes the CPA they will join 148 other communities that have already accepted the CPA, including the communities of Middleton, Manchester-by-the-Sea, Peabody and Wenham.

The state will be adding $25 million of the 2013 surplus to the CPA to help assist communities in their projects. The state used to match each community’s earnings one-to-one, but since an increase in CPA communities the state now gives less. Beverly’s Open Space and Recreation Committee Chair Elizabeth Dunne said that “$25 million will allow matching to continue at some level.”

On top of the one percent surcharge to property taxes, the city also has the option to use other municipal revenue to boost the amount the state would match through the CPA.

Beverly will vote on the act this November.

Read the entire Beverly Citizens article.

Salem Harbor Power Station Acquired by Footprint Power

Mon, 06 Aug 2012 12:00:00 EDT

The Salem Gazette recently reported that Footprint Power LLC signed an agreement with Dominion Energy Inc. to purchase the Salem Harbor Power Station. The company will build a new power plant that will be powered on natural gas and take up only one third of the Salem Harbor lot.

The new plant will reduce emissions throughout the ISO New England system and “enable more intermittent renewable generation to be built in the future.” The remaining space on the lot will most likely be developed into commercial and industrial developments.

Footprint has been working since last year to acquire the Salem Harbor site which will be the company’s first acquisition. "I'm excited about the opportunity to see the site developed. We look forward to conversations with the developers," said Salem mayor Kim Driscoll.

“We are thrilled that many months of negotiations and hard work with Dominion have allowed us to reach this milestone today,” said Footprint CEO Peter Furniss. “Salem has long been our company’s first choice for an initial project. It is a perfect opportunity for us to work with a dedicated and professional workforce, an engaged community and the committed elected officials who serve it to add responsible and respectful development to the economic base in order to further strengthen this vibrant city.”

Read the entire Salem Gazette article.

State Plants Trees to Block Highway Noise from Condo Complex

Wed, 01 Aug 2012 12:00:00 EDT

The Salem News recently reported that a Danvers condominium complex near Route-128 will not be getting a sound barrier to quiet the neighborhood, but rather 50-60 trees planted between the development and the busy highway.

River Run residents have complained about the highway noise since the discovery of contaminated soil alongside 128 forced the removal of the many trees that had been blocking highway noise. According to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation the project does not qualify for noise barriers.

“I know there was an overarching desire for noise barriers, but unfortunately, the project does not qualify for that,” said Michael Verseckes, a spokesman for the Massachusetts Department of Transportation. “In working with the community, and working with the neighbors and this association, we can develop something people can be happy with, considering the situation.”

Read the entire Salem News article.