Peabody city officials, the Yebba family and the company that operates Bonkers Funhouse on Lowell Street hard by Route 1 deserve credit for breaking ground on a plan to modernize Bonkers.
A popular family destination on a prime piece of local property, Bonkers now has a decidedly 20th century feel about it and is overdue for a new look.
Family Entertainment Group and Al and Pam Yebba plan spend up to 18 months constructing a brand-new two-story entertainment complex designed to be family-friendly with an eat-in Italian restaurant. Peabody city officials showed up in force for the project’s Oct. 16 groundbreaking because they know the importance of maximizing development on one of Peabody’s most visible corners — or do they?
Granted, the Yebbas have a second phase plan in mind for their property that includes potential new tenants. But is the traditional use for 535 Lowell St. also the best use? Like any other community in Massachusetts, Peabody is not manufacturing new land to build on. The city isn’t necessarily as land-poor as Lynn, but best and highest-use decisions should apply to local parcels, especially ones as prominently located as the Bonkers site.
State Rep. Thomas Walsh underscored the location’s significance to Peabody when he stated, “This is an ideal location for so many stores and businesses …”
That said, Peabody is a small city and politicians like Walsh and Mayor Ted Bettencourt aren’t going to get heavy-handed when it comes to telling long-time taxpayers and local businesspeople like the Yebbas that, hey, maybe there is a better use for their property.
In addition to saying, “We will build what we want on our land,” the Yebbas can make the case that their plans for 535 Lowell St. represent the best use for the property. That argument holds true until Peabody’s definition of the highest and best use of land near Route 1 is compared to Saugus’ perspective.
Long-time landmarks are falling by the wayside along Route 1 in Saugus with the Hilltop Steakhouse and Route 1 Mini-Golf giving way to the type of mixed residential developments that are sure to be sought-after locations for people working in Boston in 10 years who won’t be able to afford Boston real estate prices.
To put it plainly, property owners and developers are thinking differently about Route 1 and its relationship to communities the road runs through and the Boston economy. The era of the roadside motel and club has given way to the age of retail convenience and now a new economy and new development perspective is shaping Route 1.
Peabody officials acknowledged this changing perspective when they applied for additional liquor license approvals from the state with the goal of directing some of the additional licenses to Route 1 establishments. This local decision has been described as a development move intended in part to diversify Peabody’s economy.
But Peabody, like Saugus, will get the opportunity sooner or later to think big about Route 1 and, when that time comes, local officials will be urged by developers to look up and beyond traditional ideas to come up with mid-21st century planning visions.
