Peabody board discusses options for abandoned lot

PEABODY – The Department of Community Development and Planning held a public hearing last week regarding the city’s proposed purchase and use of the abandoned lot at 45 Walnut St.According to Community Development Director Jean Delios, their ideas were well received by residents of the neighborhood.What used to be the home of New England Sportswear has been vacant for over 20 years and become “a weed-infested lot with a chain linked fence around it,” said Delios. Both Delios and Mayor Michael Bonfanti would like to see the roughly acre of land used as open space where neighbors can bring their children and enjoy the city’s outdoors.”It all ties in with what we’re trying to do with the downtown area,” said Bonfanti, referencing the Riverwalk project and a proposed ’emerald necklace’ of green space. “With the economy dropping and the value of real estate coming down, this is a good opportunity to purchase the land through grants and tie it into our walkway and ease some of the concerns with over-development and density.”Purchasing the land would require the Council’s approval to come up with approximately $450,000 in order to acquire grant money from the Division of Conservation Services.”It’s a state grant that we’ve used in the past to fund open space acquisition,” said Delios. “There’s a match required, but it’s something we can handle.”Using the grant money would restrict the city to committing the site to open space.”Some Councilors are concerned and don’t seem to trust what we’re trying to do,” said Bonfanti. “I’ve heard comments that we’re really planning on putting a parking garage there?That’s a good idea, but it’s not what we’re trying to do?Sometimes a rose is just a rose.”Councilors are more concerned with possible contamination of the site, as it was identified as a brownfield where refining and tanning of leather products took place.Councilor Rico Mello presented a letter to the Industrial and Community Development Committee Tuesday night addressed to the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection. In the letter, he urged Commissioner Laurie Burt to help the city make an educated decision on proper use of the land after a formal environmental investigation.”Without the crucial information from an environmental assessment of the hazardous waste on this site, purchasing the property would risk the financial security of our community,” wrote Mello.Mello fears that purchasing the site before knowing its hazardous status could hold the city, rather than the current owner, responsible for proper clean up and maintenance.Delios agreed that there was environmental testing left to be done, but would like to secure the money from the state, then proceed with testing.”We won’t sign up for anything until we see what we’re dealing with,” she said.If the grant is not approved, the city will withdraw its proposal. If it is approved, the city will move forward with acquiring the property as early as this fall.Bonfanti said that in the near future, assuming the city holds ownership of the site, the city would use money to routinely upgrade it, all the while maintaining it as open space.”Maybe we’ll grow some trees and place some benches,” he said, adding a simple walking path, bocce courts, and tables for chess to the list of possibilities.Bonfanti is urging the Council to vote in favor of his plan to move the process along.”We’ve had some other development (ideas) coming in, but we feel to really enhance the area, a nice acre park that ties in with the proposed Riverwalk would be really nice,” he said.