City plans new road from police station to library
Katie Landeck
News Staff Writer
GARDNER Using eminent domain, the Gardner Redevelopment Authority announced Wednesday it will be seizing the property at 158 Rear Main St. to pave way for a new road and new developments near downtown.
“This is a critical parcel to have control of in order to complete the connectivity in the Rear Main corridor,” said Mayor Mark Hawke. “It will assist in expediting the redevelopment potential of the entire Rear Main area, which we envision having community space, bike and walking amenities, along with additional parking to service existing and new businesses and residents along Main Street.”
The property, described as a key part of the city’s urban renewal plan, was until May owned by Councillor at Large Scott Graves, who is running for re-election.
“After months of failed negotiations with the previous owner, the Authority exercised its right to take the property ... by eminent domain,” wrote Director of Community Development and Planning Trevor Beauregard.
Mr. Graves could not be reached for comment. For years, Mr. Graves owned the property jointly with two business partners — Dean LaPrade of Westminster and James P. Lampert of Wayland — as part of the company Bushwood LLC.
In 2014, Bushwood owed the city nearly $5,500 in back taxes.
In February 2015, city records show Bushwood sold the property to Mr. Graves for $75,000. Then in May, Mr. Graves sold the property to Derby Drive Inc., owned by Mr. LaPrade.
The city will pay Mr. LaPrade $106,000 as part of the eminent domain seizure, according to Mr. Beauregard. The Redevelopment Authority arrived at that figure, which is believed to be fair market value, after several appraisals of the property.
The city plans to demolish the building on the site this fall, depending on whether it can get grant funding to do it.
Once the building is demolished, the city will move forward with the construction of Derby Drive, connecting Levi Heywood Memorial Library to the new police station. Mr. Beauregard said the new road – which will include bicycle and pedestrian friendly routes – would be completed by the end of June 2016.
“This is really the Redevelopment Authority’s mission - to assist the city with implementing important economic development projects that will eventually create additional investment opportunities in the community and a better quality of life for our residents,” said Redevelopment Authority Chairman Ronald Cormier, who is running for re-election for his post in the City Council. “It is critical to have a partnership between the GRA and city in order to implement and successfully complete projects of this magnitude.”
When the police station project broke ground, it turned the tide of development efforts in the rest of the downtown, pushing projects forward, according to Mr. Beauregard.
“Obviously, the police station was the start of something good,” he said.
Since then, Cumberland Farms has moved forward with plans to open a 12-pump gas station worth millions next to the police station. The project will also remove three blighted buildings from the downtown.
Simultaneously, the city and Redevelopment Authority are making moves to take another downtown building by eminent domain within the next few months. Officials have not disclosed which building yet, but $95,000 has been approved by the City Council for the purchase.
Properties can be taken by the city or Redevelopment Authority if they are part of an urban renewal plan, if they are a safety concern or if back taxes are owed.
“The city and GRA, under the mayor’s direction, has come to the realization that if we don’t act no one will,” said Mr. Beauregard. “The GRA feels now is the time to act, especially now that we are seeing private investment.”
look at who owned this property and when they bought and resold it ...in my opinion a little inside info to make a buck !!!
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