Peabody council OKs purchase of vacated property

PEABODY – After many not so brief discussions Thursday night, the Peabody City Council voted to authorize Mayor Michael Bonfanti to go into a purchase and sale agreement for acquisition of the vacated lot at 45 Walnut St.At an asking price of $115,375, down from an estimated $1.3 million in 2005, the city hopes to turn the site into a green park for downtown residents and visitors.When the project was first proposed to the Council, many concerns were raised, particularly around the site’s possible contamination and cost to the city. After several 21E (environmental tests) were completed, results showed that the former leather tannery lot was indeed polluted; however, not nearly as bad as some councilors expected.According to Ileen Gladstone of GEI Consultants, the Woburn firm leading environmental studies of the site, the contamination of groundwater was at a level that poses no risk and requires no cleanup. As for the soil, Gladstone said that there were metal contaminants about 12-18 inches deep throughout the soil. Petroleum, however, was only found in about 100 cubic yards of soil, specifically toward the center of the lot.Gladstone recommended excavating the soil that contained petroleum remnants, then filling in that section with fresh, clean soil. She also recommended capping the entire lot using an impermeable barrier, as it would be far more cost-effective and efficient, saving the city roughly $1 million. Following her method, the city is looking at roughly $284,626 for remediation, which Community Development Director Jean Delios said would most definitely be reimbursed through state and federal grant money.Councilor Rico Mello was skeptical.”No one here is against motherhood and no one here is against a park,” said Mello. “I don’t want my children playing on a park that’s contaminated.”Mello was also worried about paying for the project if, by chance, the grant money doesn’t come through.”My neighborhood can not afford another tax increase,” he said, alluding to the idea of raising taxes to cover upkeep of the park. “We’re tapped out.”Councilor Barry Osborne felt that the proposal was the best to come across their desks, yet, as no other prospective bidders have come forward in the 20 years it’s been vacant.”If we don’t do something, what’s going to happen to that land?” he asked the Council. “Maybe we have to take the initiative. We always find a reason not to do something?Nothing ventured, nothing gained.”Councilor Dave Gravel agreed, saying that even the downtown business community expressed support of the project to help stimulate their businesses. The Director of the Peabody Institute Library, Martha Holden, gave her support as well, citing that children in that area badly need a park to play in.Councilor Anne Manning made the motion to authorize the agreement after voicing her praise of Community Development for their hard work.”The design of this park is like something out of the North End,” she said. “It addresses many of our concerns?This is a great asset to the city.”Her motion carried 9-2. Councilor President Barry Sinewitz and Mello voted in opposition.