Other Peabody News:
Fitzgerald heads to New Hampshire for town manager job
Warning label handed to PVMHS
Children's Hospital announces new location in Centennial Park
70 Endicott could be kept as open space
by John Castelluccio
PEABODY – City councilors want to look at creating open space at
70 Endicott Street, as they again deviated from the advice of city officials
last week.
Community Development Director Jean Delios drafted a third public bid document
for the former school administration building, this time incorporating
three general concerns heard from neighbors: creating open space, preserving
the historic building and generating a minimal impact on traffic.
“The goal would be to get a development in there that would be compatible
with the neighborhood,” Delios said, adding that she spoke to a few
neighbors that were pleased with the plan. She said the new Request for
Proposals could be a “hybrid” concept.
Councilors balked at the idea of feasibly fitting open space with a commercial
business on the property, which is about 27,000 square feet, after hearing
an informal plan from the owner of a local landscaping company.
“My first suggestion was to raze the building and put in a couple
units, but obviously that’s not going to happen,” Councilor
James Liacos said, adding that his second choice would be to use the entire
site for some type of open space.
He offered a motion, which passed unanimously, to consider options for
open space and investigate whether local funding is available from the
Community Preservation Act or at the state level due to the site’s
condition as a Brownfield. He said the city has spent millions to preserve
open space in other areas, mostly South Peabody – “it’s
time to spread the wealth.”
The council originally ignored Delios’ advice due to concerns over
financial and design issues, and approved a bid from Michael McNiff for
four single-family condos on the site, which was subsequently overturned
by Mayor Michael Bonfanti as McNiff backed away from the project. That
argument continued between the council and Delios as councilors aired their
frustrations.
“I got the feeling you didn’t like what we approved last time,” said
Liacos.
“I wasn’t against the project, I just felt we needed more information
,” Delios said, noting that she wasn’t aware of financing issues
until late in the process.
“The Community Development Department did not want this project to
happen,” said Councilor Ted Bettencourt. He added that he often deals
with such financial issues as a real estate lawyer and felt Delios’ concerns
inaccurately portrayed the situation. He said purchase and sale agreements
have financing contingencies built in.
Bettencourt was in favor of the landscaping company using the building
along with councilors David Gamache and Anne Manning, all of whom argued
a business would be best for the site, but voted in favor of Liacos’ motion
to see what direction the discussion will take.
“We can’t clean the parks we have now,” Gamache said,
adding that he won’t support creation of another park if discussion
turns in that direction.
Manning said she favored enlarging the tax base and getting the “right” business
to come in. She pointed out there is already a park up the street.
John Crandell, owner of J.C. Landscaping, told councilors he would preserve
the building and maintain a path around Crowninshield Pond, which abuts
the property. The smaller structure attached to the building would be used
as a garage to house seven or eight vehicles and business hours would be
8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Crandell said he does have one contractor among his 16
employees who starts at 5 a.m., but added that schedule could be changed
to suit the neighbors.
Crandell said his current location on Railroad Avenue does not suit the
company’s needs, is too expensive and cramped. He’s been looking
in Danvers and elsewhere, and while he doesn’t want to leave Peabody,
he may be forced to for lack of available space.
Council President Arthur Athas pointed out that zoning in the multi-family
district likely prohibits such a business use, and suggested that Community
Development investigate a way that the company could set up shop if it
was approved. Delios said the site might fall under a zoning exemption
because of the pre-existing non-conforming size of the lot for that district.
Dee Pilkons, who lives at 61 Endicott Street and helped organize neighbors
to discuss their concerns, said that many people wanted an open space area
if possible, but were not averse to putting the building back on the tax
rolls.
“We want the best possible use,” she said. As for the landscaping
company, Pilkons said neighbors were in favor of pursuing that option and
didn’t have any initial complaints.
Liacos scoffed at the idea that neighbors would not complain about a business
in the middle of their neighborhood, especially ones with trucks coming
and going.
A woman who lives on Warren Street complained about the noise from trucks
used to clean up the oil spill at the site and said she was against having
a business with trucks at the site. She has been trying to sell her condo
for a year to no avail.
Councilors asked about the other interested parties in the property that
Delios introduced to the council earlier this fall. She said William Wharff,
a Salem developer, is still interested in restoring the building and creating
five to seven condos.
“We really don’t know what’s in the ground…what
about money to clean the site?” asked councilor Barry Osborne.
“I think it’s our spill and we need to clean this up,” said
Liacos, adding that if funds are not available for open space, then he
will be willing to look at the RFP again. Delios said it could cost $100,000
just to demolish the old building.
The matter will be kept in the Industrial & Community Development subcommittee
as a funding proposal is drafted to send along to the Community Preservation
Committee.
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