Wellesley seniors stress need for new center - The Boston Globe

Wellesley seniors stress need for new center - The Boston Globe

Posted using ShareThis

Karp Speaks; Says Little

Well, Northshore Magazine took a stab at capturing the epic so-called struggle between Karp and those fighting for the "real" Newburyport, whatever that might be.

The piece is balanced, focusing largely on Ann Lagasse and her work downtown. (I think the timeline in the history is a bit off. I'm pretty sure the Lagasses bought their properties in the 1980s as they were already The Lagasses when I arrived in 1993.)

The writer hits the usual issues: White Hen, "Nantucketization," the leases that call for a share in store profits (the Lagasses had this in place back in The Day). The only real perk I can offer is the reporter actually spoke to Karp about his introduction into the city through Walter Beinecke, the development guru who advised him on Nantucket as well as The Lagasses during their accumulation of downtown properties.

Karp had reportedly declined to invest in Newburyport the first time he was approached, but later changed his mind and was drawn to the city. “Walter [Beinecke] introduced me to Newburyport, and we discussed the similarities and differences with Nantucket,” Karp says. “I had great appreciation for the character of Newburyport, the preservation of older buildings, the unique shops and restaurants, the location on the Merrimack, and the close proximity to Plum Island.”

Karp began buying several of the Lagasses’ properties in 2005, starting with 31 properties and adding on from there. He had a vision for the town, one that was estimated at more than $100 million that included long-term development of the waterfront. Ann Lagasse stayed on with NED and now helps manage its Newburyport properties.

“The Lagasses created value in their preservation of building character, land purchases, and appreciation of the location on the water,” Karp says. “Ann continues her work in finding new tenants who serve a year-round population.”

Karp sheds little light on what's coming. The article suggests the construction of a hotel is up in the air given the state of the economy. I guess I was a little surprised to read that but it makes sense.

Of any future plans Karp gives some assurances that people will have a say. “We try to listen to what people have to say,” Karp says. “We can’t always agree with everyone. The community will have input into any major development that will change downtown.”

White Hen supporters will scoff at this, and while I understand their position and admire their willingness to fight I'm not entirely sure the majority of people in town share their views and even if the do they clearly don't share their passion.

In fairness, sad as it is to note, the majority of people in town aren't passionate about much these days. (See 39% voter turnout.)

NED Looks South?

I honestly don't know what to make of this or what conclusions to draw, but this certainly is interesting.

Our own Charles Lagasse is heading a group called Boston Boat Basin, which just put in a $9.9 million bid for Boston's North End Marina, Yacht Haven marina.

The real estate paper Banker & Tradesman appears to have the exclusive. You can read all about it here. Tip of the cap to Northendwaterfront.com, a blog focused on the land of my people. (Mom grew up there, which is why I think Newburyport desperately need a real Italian bakery.)
I know nothing about this project, but the article seems to suggest Boston Boat Basin--which shares an address with our own Newburyport Development, owned by Steve Karp and New England Development--paid a pretty penny for the property.

The sale price is nearly $2 million more than the $8 million credit bid that
North End marina's current owner, Northern Bank & Trust, paid at bankruptcy
auction in August. No private bidder came close to matching that price at
auction, with most bidders quitting the action at $5 million.

This clearly shows Karp & Co. have the capital to spend when it makes sense, which makes me wonder why they have shown zero public interest in the Towle project property.

A Daily Delight

What a kick in the Khakis

Klondike Bar is featuring a video game called "The Adventures of Khaki Pants Pete."

I need a lawyer.

Bah Humbug at the News

Media critic and blogger (aren't we all) Dan Kennedy reports that CNHI, the national company that owns the Daily News, Salem Evening News, the Trib and others is requiring employees to take another unpaid day off sometime before Dec. 26. Local reporters already have taken at least one furlough week this year.

Be Heard on Charter Review

I thought this letter to the editor in the Daily News presented an interesting perspective on the task facing the Charter Review Commission. The letter writer essentially argued that the commission should issue a statement of what elements of the city charter will be reviewed and, I suppose, why they're reviewed.

Perhaps such a proactive statement would work to get the conversation moving forward, however, I fear it would just as likely establish a position that Charter Review commission members might be forced to defend.

As this stage, I think the most prudent and practical step would require the voters of the city to attend Wednesday's public hearing to state THEIR concerns about the city's current form of governement. Voters need to make their own voices heard first to give the Commission members a foundation and framework to work within.

At some point the commission will need to take a stand and present a document that represents the majority--and I hope the entirety--of the memebers' opinion. But right now the commission needs to hear what voters feel are the shortcomings of our current government--if they feel there are any--and then act on those statements.

The first opportunity for the public to speak to these issues will be Wednesday night at 7 p.m. at City Hall.

Why the Rush?

Two things strike me as odd about the city appealing the flood maps on behalf of Steve Karp's New England Development, and not one of them has to do with the city appealing the flood maps on behalf of Steve Karp's New England development.

I agree with the Daily News. Makes sense for the city.

What I don't get is why the last minute filing? Are you telling me this wasn't on NED's radar until recently, and it took a last minute bit of cramming to get the appeal in? What the heck?

The city filed an appeal of the preliminary Flood Insurance Rate Maps on behalf of New England Development on Monday, the last day possible to fight the imposition of new flood maps that will impact hundreds of properties in the city.

Mayor John Moak had said earlier this year that the city would not appeal the new maps, which will take effect June 1. However, the mayor said last week that the city is the only party that can file an appeal and did so this week on behalf of the development company.

Everyone wants to point at the White Hen Pantry as being the first chink in NED's armor, suggesting the move to expand the CVS represents some sort of communal tone deafness. Wait, I think I said that too.

But this to me raises even more questions. Is there a legitimate reason why the appeal went down to the wire. Seems to me the city's been warning about these maps for a long-time. Did NED take a look just recently?

Honestly, what possibly could be more important to NED's plans this the flood maps?

Oh and the second odd thing--interesting really--is the suggestion that the flood maps might require NED to elevate building on the site to compensate for any flood waters.

The maps would cause any new buildings to be built at a higher elevation than they would have been, which can be a "multiple feet" difference, Green said.

If new buildings are a higher elevation, it wouldn't match what is currently in place, [Local NED Rep Tony] Green said.

From my understanding, NED already had issues with the height limitations laid out by the Overlay District. So, if the flood maps really require the buildings to start at a higher elevation any building's that NED has eyed for that parcel could really squeeze the square-footage of any project cown there.

What these means for the feasibility of the entire project, I just don't know.

John Moak's New Gig

Nashoba Publishing has the details on John Moak's new contract with Pepperell. Go here.

Highpoints

* Three-year deal
* $94,000 per year
* Starts Jan 4.
* He's going to oversee IT functions as well as administrative, not sure what that means.
* No salary increasee for 18 months. Beyond that there is a performance based 0 to 2 1/2 percent option.
* His employment can be terminated if Moak seeks another job within the first two years of the contract.


Can we get the last one for our Superintendent?

Senior Center Meeting

The Senior Center Building Committee will meet to discuss the notion of acquring the Towle project land. However, the meeting is Monday, December 21 at 8am in the City Council Chambers, not this coming Monday as reported in the Daily News this morning.

Hmmm, Senior Center?

This place provided the family a great deal of comfort when we lived in Central, Mass. Sad to see it go.


Oh, and hellllooooooo Loretta. Welcome to town.

We'll see who has the longer lines, the BBQ or the neighboring Grezzo, the raw food place. (Actually I'm eager to try Grezzo.)

Mr. Moak's New Neighborhood

Gillian Swart is reporting that John Moak accepted the job in Pepperell, no real surprise. She was too polite to ask about salary, but the guess is he'll come close to if not top $100,000, not a bad bump from his current $62,500.

I thought we should all get to know our Mayor's new professional home. I considered taking a trip to Pepperell where I'd interview town leaders, average joes, regular janes (Wrangler Jane if she's available) and return with a concise, yet insightful report.

But I realized the comments section from the Lowell Sun article announcing the job offer to Moak would be just as illuminating, so here you go.

Lots of comments, 26 in all, I particularly enjoyed the suggestions that our mayor is some kind of fast-talking Harold Hill, who pressured the selectmen into offering him the job by mentioning the other potential job offers. Sounds a lot like...someone else's mayor.

In fact, one commenter refuted a section of an earlier article--the one I linked to initially that quoted Moak as advising Pepperell's selectmen to act quickly because he was considering other positions. The commenter reported that Moak actually said that he had no other offers and would move on if Pepperell declined.

I'd say the overall tone is positive, but Moak is clearly stepping into a battle between native and newcomers. It appears as if he'll be seen as an agent of the change, again, doesn't sound a lot like our mayor, who enjoyed particularly strong support from old timers in these parts. (And newcomers as well, no doubt.) He also got a plug from someone calling themselves Clipperpride.

As an aside, notice that I never once called these commenters--bloggers--because they are not. Bloggers have blogs.

Because I keep forgetting...

Please consider this a reminder to vote in tomorrow's Senate primary. Check out the Newburyport Dems blog, Newburyport's (GOP) Voice blog and the Daily News site for background information if you still need it.

Plop

That's the sound of the other shoe dropping on the Towle Bulding project. Read the deets at Newburyportbiz. The city is in some stage of talks/consideration about buying the project. Looks like a lot of moving parts, but it's an interesting idea that I still need to get my brain around.

That said, it would be wrong of me not to point out that I raised this idea in April....

I actually thought of the senior center this week while reading in the Daily News about the mothballed luxury condo project behind the Towle building. It's a shame the building can't acquire one of these hafl built structures and convert it into a senior center. That would be the ideal spot, easy access to parking, the waterfront and many doctor's offices in the Towle building.

I left the many typos and grammatical errors to prove its authenticity.

Men's Shopping Night: A Rebuttal By Bean

When are you going to comment on the sexist nature of the upcoming “Men’s Shopping Night”?

As if all men are pathetic, procrastinating, deer-in-headlights shopping zombies that lack thought and creativity when it comes to buying gifts! I find it highly offensive and I plan on suing every shop in Newburyport that participates.

It is an insult to assume that all men wait until the last minute to purchase gifts and actually need to be told what their significant other and family members want for Christmas. You should join me in this cause!

By the way, do you know if any shops will be open on the 24th, just in case?

-Bean

More Moak Details

Here's the Daily News' account of Mayor Moak receiving a job offer from Pepperell. Apparently, he'll be staying through the end of his term, but I'm guessing he'll take a little time off between Christmas and New Year's as we all hope to do.

Two quick thoughts....

I don't know a thing about the town, except it's location, but Pepperell is roughly two-thirds the size of Newburyport and it's run by a three-person board of selectman and a town manager. We have 11 Councillors and a Mayor. Just an interesting contrast of communities. No doubt, Pepperell is a bit more sleepy/rural, but 12,000 people is 12,000 people.

I can't wait to see what the salary is. We're in a sad state if he doubles his $60,000 mayoral salary.

BTW, Charter Review Commission is meeting tonight and planning to hold its first public hearing on Dec. 16. More on the hearing later, I hope.

And yes, I'm bringing back Lord Dexter, and his little Dog too.

What the hell

I don't go around proposing tiny taxes and pushing for senior centers do I?

Ed Cameron's got the news on John Moak getting a job offer from Pepperell.

Stay off my turf, Ed.

(Oh and Gillian beat me to it as well. Stupid job.)