Category Archives: Planning and Development

Planning and Development, Newburyport, MA, urban planning, the design, construction and organization of Newburyport’s urban spaces, architecture and activities.

Newburyport, Wheelwright Gardens Make the Endangered Property List

Preservation Massachusetts has named the Wheelwright Gardens as one of Massachusetts’ “10 Most Endangered Resources.”

Well, yeh. They thought outside the box. Good for Preservation Massachusetts.

The Wheelwright Gardens are the first gardens ever to be place on Preservation Massachusetts “10 Most Endangered Resources.”

High Street won in 1999. The only roadway ever nominated. It was a very, very big deal. Fenway Park made it to the top ten that year too, and it’s still standing, thank you very much.

In 2001 the two historic houses, the William Barlett House and the William Johnson House on the Federal Street made it to the top ten. Not only are they still standing, but they have both been lovingly restored, with deed restrictions no less.

The “Common Pasture” made it to the top ten in 2004, and the Common Pasture has had many successes.

The Endangered Resource List is a very big deal. Let’s hope that the Wheelwright Gardens have the same “luck” as everything else that has made it.

And this is from the Newburyport Current online, Tuesday, September 26, 2006 (again many thanks to Ulrika Gerth):

“The fact that this extremely rare Federal style garden has remained intact for over 120 years is amazing,” said Jim Igoe, president of Preservation Massachusetts. “This horticultural gem shares the same historic significance as the main house on this property and should benefit from the same type of protection granted to it.”

The story can be read at:
www.townonline.com/newburyport

Mary Eaton
Newburyport

Newburyport, Infill Ordinance

The “Infill Ordinance” or the “Amendment to Section 9” of the Newburyport Zoning Code is on the agenda for tonight’s Newburyport City Council Meeting.

The Newburyport Planning Board is asking for a joint Public Hearing with the Newburyport City Council

Last year, a previous version of this amendment to the zoning code was turned down by the Newburyport City Council.

What’s the biggest change in this version (at least that I can make out)?

The first version required a “Special Permit.” This version requires a “Finding.”

Huge difference.

Basically if your average homeowner would like to build an addition or alteration that is bigger than 500 square feet for a “non-conforming” structure for either a one or two family home, they would need to come before the City for a “chat.”

(This version includes both one-family and two-family homes. The previous version only applied to two-family homes. This change came about at the request of members of the Newburyport City Council.)

A special permit, whether it is for the Newburyport Planning Board or the Newburyport Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) is fairly stringent. Part of the requirement for both boards is that:

“The requested use is essential and/or desirable to the public convenience or welfare.”

One of my questions on the first version of this amendment to Section 9 was that if your average homeowner wanted to build, lets’ say a 600 square foot addition that included a bedroom and a very nice new kitchen, how would that be “essential or desirable to the public convenience or welfare?”

Well, frankly, it wouldn’t. It would be for the homeowner’s convenience and welfare. Under this version, that stringent requirement does not apply.

As I understand it, what this version does require is that the homeowner or developer come in front of the City for a chat to try and makes sure that whatever is going to be built is not only good for the homeowner, but is also in keeping with the local neighborhood character.

This works for me. And I hope it works for every member of the Newburyport City Council. In my book, that would be terrific.

Mary Eaton
Newburyport

Newburyport, The Wheelwright Property Subdivision Proposal

The Wheelwright property developers, Wills Lane Investments, are speeding right along. The developers are on tomorrow night’s Planning Board agenda for an OSRD Pre-Application Conference (Wednesday, September, 20, 2006, 7PM, City Hall.)

(I believe that the fact that this is a Pre-Application Conference means that the neighbors (much less the public) are not notified. As I understand it the neighbors are only notified once an application has actually been submitted.)

The developers have not formally submitted a development application. The Pre-Application Conference gives them the chance to float their plans to the Newburyport Planning Board to get feedback before filing an application that may get rejected. (This blogger hopes everything they would like to do would get rejected and they would not be able to do anything at all.)

The street that the Wheelwright property developers list is Brown Street. Brown Street is an extension of Greenleaf Street (that goes past the Newburyport Fire Station and the video store.) It is on the other side of State Street.

On the Newburyport GIS map, it looks like Brown Street curves around the property. But from what I can make out, that curve looks like it would be the driveway to the Cemetery where the Wheelwright family (among many others) is buried. That picture is in a previous post on the Newburyport Political Blog. I am not absolutely sure of this.

But what is for sure is that the proposed road and 5 house subdivision would border right along the Cemetery. It’s bad enough that the Wheelwright property developers would already like to rape the Ridge, much less desecrate Newburyport’s ancestors.

Newburyport Planning Board
This Wednesday
September 20, 2006
7 PM, Newburyport City Hall

Mary Eaton
Newburyport

The Role of the Planning Office in Newburyport, MA

Let’s have a little chat about the Mayor John Moak’s redefining Julie LaBranche’s (our former City Planner) old job description.

In the past City Planners in Newburyport, MA have worked with applicants to explain what is generally acceptable to the Newburyport Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA.)

The City Planner has explained to all sorts folks coming into Newburyport City Hall for help and information on projects large and small about height, building mass, lot coverage, setbacks when applying for special permits and variances.

Believe me before I started the Newburyport Political Blog I had no clue about any of this stuff. And it’s so complicated that I still do not comprehend most of it, and I’m really trying.

So I know for your average person in Newburyport, MA talking with someone about what they would like to do is really, really important. And it is my understanding that many of the projects that are initially presented to the Planning Office simply wouldn’t fly with the ZBA.

And yes, this is where a City Planner is so handy. Because a City Planner in Newburyport, MA can offer options as to how to avoid excesses that may cause delay or just downright rejection by the ZBA.

And a good City Planner can also offer up constructive solutions that will benefit the applicant and the residents of the City of Newburyport as well. Or what I would call one of those delightful “win-win” situations.

However, if the new “Zoning Administrator” is going to have to review every building application, which by the way it is my understanding that that job belongs to the Newburyport Building Inspector, “goodbye” helping the public and “hello” to jamming up the Zoning Board of Appeals. And this is very unappealing in my book, let me tell you.

So, I still cannot figure out what in the world Mayor John Moak could be thinking about with this revamping of the Planning Office. It really, really doesn’t work for me.

And whoever is Mayor next, if they are in tuned with what a Planning Office is all about, they will have to completely redefine what the Zoning Administrator, Building Inspector and Planning Office would be doing. And hopefully change the Zoning Administrator’s job back to that of a City Planner. Yes, necessary and vital, and what an incredible waste of time for all and sundry in Newburyport, MA.

Mary Eaton
Newburyport

Newburyport, The Wheelwright Property

The Wheelwright property that lies between High Street and the Oak Hill Cemetery in Newburyport, MA belonged to Mr. William Wheelwright. Mr. Wheelwright was well known for having built the first railroad in South America among other things.

The Wheelwrights are buried in the Oak Hill Cemetery that is within view of their former property. The Wheelwright’s graves are literally within site of the estate.

I am sure that Mr. William Wheelwright and his wife Martha Bartlet Wheelwright never imagined having a 5 house subdivision (and I’m pretty sure that they will not be 5 dainty houses) right next to their gravesites.

It seems to me to be unbelievably insensitive of the developer to even think about desecrating our historic heritage by contemplating such an act.

It certainly seems like a sacrilege to me.

A reader of the Newburyport Political Blog took these pictures. Many thanks to Ed Mair.

wheelwright.grave.jpg
Edward Gerrish Mair © 2006
This Memorial marks the actual Wheelwright family plot.

wheelwright.1.jpg
Edward Gerrish Mair © 2006

And this photograph is taken by the State Street entrance to the Oak Hill Cemetery and is right by the property that will be developed.

Mary Eaton
Newburyport

Newburyport Planning Office Doing Part of the Building Inspector’s Job?

Well, I’m a little upset about the Mayor of Newburyport rewriting what used to be Julie Labranche’s (our former City Planner) job. This must be part of what the Mayor keeps talking about when he keeps saying he would like to “streamline the permitting process.”

So now we will not have a City Planner. We will now have a “Planning/Zoning Administrator.”

The new position essentially takes over half of the Building Inspector’s job.

One might assume that Mayor John Moak may not be interested in long range planning issues for the City that would protect Newburyport’s historic heritage, local neighborhood character and environmental quality.

If I really wanted to be “catty” I could say that Mayor John Moak appears to be interested in making his long time friend, Gary Calderwood, our building inspector’s job a whole lot easier.

Now I like Mr. Calderwood, he has always been very kind to me. But from a taxpayer’s point of view, it would make more sense to me for our Building Inspector to do the existing job description, than take away much need expertise from the Planning Office.

We need a Planning Office that would be focused on long term planning to protect our local neighborhood character and historic heritage and environmental quality.

Local neighborhood character, environmental quality and historic heritage = money for the City of Newburyport, MA.

Destruction of our historic heritage, environmental quality and local neighborhood character = loss of money for the City of Newburyport, MA.

I am confused. What part of this equation does Mayor John Moak not seem to understand?

Mary Eaton
Newburyport

Newburyport, DEP Meeting–Landfill, City Hall

The DEP is coming to City hall next Thursday night, September 14, 2006 at 7 PM to address the Landfill issue.

This is an extremely important meeting for the City of Newburyport, MA.

The DEP is coming to discuss health issues as a result of the air quality sampling that was done earlier in the year. The DEP has labeled the findings to be a “health hazard”.

This is a City-wide issue. Not only has the air quality been deemed a “health hazard,” but also the runoff is affecting the Little River and surrounding wetlands.

The hope would be that State officials would understand that we as a City are concerned and would not like to be left with this unfortunate and dangerous situation.

And I also gather that the hope would be to try and get at least 200 people or more to be at City Hall that evening

My understanding is that the DEP will present information on what is currently happening and, hopefully, what is going to be done to fix the problem. They will also answer questions.

As I understand it, this is an opportunity to ask questions of the DEP. And I also understand that the hope is that the tone of the meeting would be civil and constructive and that complaints and war stories would be left for another time.

City Councilor Bruce Vogel has offered to gather questions. Please feel free to send your questions to Councilor Vogel at 978-462-5463 or wardfive@comcast.net.

(The Landfill is in Councilor Vogel’s ward, Ward 5, and I am sure that he will do everything in his power to help everyone on this issue.)

I have no idea if there are fliers out for the meeting. If there are, I would be most happy to pass on the word.

Mary Eaton
Newburyport

Newburyport, MA—A Little Protection

I’m going to say a dirty, dirty, dirt word – Local Historic District (LHD.)

Wow, it’s as if we’ve been brainwashed in this town to think LHDs are evil.

A LHD in Newburyport MA has come to mean “I’m only allowed to paint my house a certain color of purple and the outside doorknob has to be brass surrounded with diamonds.”

Well, I’m exaggerating here, a purple house with a brass and diamond doorknob isn’t exactly New England historic (I don’t know exactly what it is, but it’s not New England historic.)

But you get the idea, people in Newburyport MA have gotten the idea that a LHD means someone is going to dictate what they going to do and it is the equivalent of being in “property ownership jail,” plus they would never be able to sell their house and their property values would drop like crazy.

Well, let’s see. A Local Historic District is the only thing that would completely protect our historic assets. We can create incentives to do right, but given the example of let’s say threatening to turn the Wheelwright House into condominiums, “incentives” to do “right,” may not always work with people who have no intention of doing “right” by Newburyport, MA.

I’m a big advocate of “Local Historic District Light.” Basically creating a Local Historic District or a series of Local Historic Districts that have absolutely the minimum restrictions and see how we all deal with that. A little bit like having a demolition delay that starts with 6 months and seeing how it works.

You can write whatever you want a Local Historic District to be folks…it doesn’t have to be purple houses with diamond doorknockers.

And as for “Local Historic District Light” being a waste of time, well “nuts” to that, some protection is better than no protection at all.

And guess what, properties in Local Historic Districts usually appreciate at rates greater than your general housing market. Well, just look at Newburyport, MA, people want to live here because of our historic structures.

Historic heritage = money.

Worst-case scenario for houses in a Local Historic District is that they would appreciation at rates equivalent to the overall local market. Boy, that’s really bad.

And also for houses in a LHD, there is less volatility when the market goes south. Believe me folks, that’s really terrible.

Hey, this all of this works for me.

Our luck in Newburyport, MA has changed. It’s time to un-brainwash ourselves about LHDs. No, a Local Historic District is not the equivalent of having the Bubonic Plague.

Mary Eaton
Newburyport

Newburyport, Economic Agenda

In today’s Newburyport Daily News, September 7, 2006 there is a brief article on Mayor John Moak’s economic agenda.

“The city is trying to streamline the permitting process for new businesses…” The Mayor also talks about luring business and industry to the City.

Nowhere does Mayor John Moak mention protecting our historic heritage that is the foundation of our economic survival.

And last night the Wheelwright property came before the Newburyport Planning Board. According to the Newburyport Daily News, the Newburyport Planning Board agreed to divide the property. The front parcel can now be sold as a separate entity and the back parcel can now be considered for a “subdivision.” From what I understand, legally, there was not much the Newburyport Planning Board could do to prevent the Wheelwright land from being divided…sigh.

However, the Newburyport Planning Board has been working hard at what I would consider the City’s best interest. They have been working on an amendment to a zoning ordinance that would help protect our historic heritage and local neighborhood character. Whew.

This is the amendment to Section IX (9) of the zoning code or what I call the “Infill Ordinance,” which was on the Newburyport Planning Board agenda last night.

I have seen the “Proposed Revised Version of Section IX” dated August 28, 2006 and it looks good to me.

Basically any non-conforming one and two family homes are allowed additions of 500 square feet. In my mind that’s a good amount of square footage which would allow a responsible addition or alteration—a very nice kitchen, family room, master bedroom, huge spa.

Anything over that would require coming before the City for a dialogue about what would be proposed. This does not mean that something larger than a 500 square foot addition could not be built. It would, however, be a step towards helping to insure that all parties are working together to keep the historic nature and local and neighborhood character of Newburyport, MA.

This amendment to the zoning ordinance will require a vote before the Newburyport City Council. Last year, for reasons I am still unclear about, a similar amendment to the zoning code did not pass.

My hope is that this year we have a different political climate. That the residents and City Council are beginning to see that we are at a turning point of over development and that we are about to or already are losing our economic base. My hope is that the vote on this zoning amendment is a “no-brainer,” and that the Newburyport City Council will do its part in helping to insure our economic survival.

Mary Eaton
Newburyport

Newburyport, Railroad Station – Senior Center

It is my opinion that the railroad station is, commercially, a dead dead duck, because it is impossible to get directly from the station to the tracks.

I have always thought that the railroad station could be enlarged where necessary and turned into the senior center. And there would be plenty of parking.

James Charles Roy
Newburyport

Questions About the Newburyport Commuter Rail Station

Hi Mary,

Perhaps you or one of your readers could help me understand the ongoing saga at the Newburyport Commuter Rail Station.

The station seems to have a severe electrical problem which makes it impossible for the operator to keep it open on a consistent basis.

As I understand it, the ball keeps getting tossed back and forth between the Newburyport City Council and the MBTA. And the issues still have not been resolved 13 months after opening.

It is frustrating to have a train station that is unable to stay open consistently, sell food, or otherwise function as a station could.

BTW – Thanks for starting this blog, it is a great source of information.

Thanks for your help

Frank Smietana
Newburyport

Newburyport, Our Preservation Dilemma

A very astute reader of the Newburyport Political Blog has this to say:

“We were preserved because of the 1811 fire and the storm that filled the harbor with sand. Since that time, until the early 80s when low prices brought so many of us here to restore, there was no money to demolish and rebuild. Long-term depression was our gift. Now, there’s money, and lots of it, and we are faced with the downside of economic success. We can now, finally, demolish and rebuild.”

Well, “yuck.” Unfortunately, it is my belief that this reader is right. And I have heard this opinion many times before.

Just look at the Wheelwright property, the rape of the Ridge, “the compromising of another stately building and its surrounding property which will visually affect the historic landscape of that area.” (From another reader of the Newburyport Political Blog.)

So what to do?

George Cushing, of Frog Pond (yes, there really is a Frog Pond) at the Bartlett Mall, the new political consultant for the Newburyport Political Blog is mulling this dilemma over.

george16.jpg
George Cushing of Frog Pond at the Bartlett Mall
contemplating this dilemma

George Cushing feels that the only way to prevent “demolish and rebuild” is by having zoning amendments that protect our historic heritage. Otherwise, “ouch” the future looks very, very bleak.

Mary Eaton
Newburyport

Newburyport, Consultants for the Planning Office

A couple of weeks before she left, our former City Planner, Julie LaBranche, said to me that she thought it would be a good idea if Mayor John Moak hired a consultant to do part of her job and part of the job of Planning Director, using the funds from the two unfilled positions.

Seemed like a great idea to me, since it’s going to be awhile until those positions are filled.

Of course my first thought was, “wouldn’t it be fun if the City hired Nick Cracknell and Julie LaBranche as the consultants.” That obviously was never going to happen.

My second thought was Nancy Colbert, who was Newburyport’s Planning Director before Nick Cracknell. It was during Nancy Colbert’s tenure that the Newburyport Master Plan took shape. Nancy also knows all the players and all the issues. The only possible drawback would be that when I knew her, her expertise appeared to be in project management rather than zoning. But hey, she’d be great.

My other thought was Rick Taintor, the president of Taintor and Associates. Rick was the consultant on the Strategic Land Use plan and is the consultant for the Little River Transit Village project. And Mr. Taintor’s firm was the consultant for the Newburyport Master Plan. In my book, who better?

And low and behold that is who Mayor John Moak picked to help us through this transition period. As far as I’m concerned, well, “yeh.”

From what I can make out, our consultants will be working 12 hours a week. According to the Newburyport Daily News, August 31, 2006, Nancy Colbert will be the “primary onsite representative, while Rick Taintor and associate Juliet Walker will provide additional technical support and meeting attendance.” I wish the hours were more like 30 hours a week, but this solution appears to be a good “port in the storm.” And it will be fun to see Nancy Colbert in the Newburyport Planning Office again, even if it’s just for a short time.

Mary Eaton
Newburyport

Newburyport, Wheelwright Property, Approval Not Required—Subdivision

The new owners of the Wheelwright House property, 75 High Street, Willis Lane Investments, LLC, will becoming in front of the Newburyport Planning Board this Wednesday, September 6, 2006, 7:00 PM at City Hall to apply for an ANR – Approval Not Required – Subdivision.

These guys are moving fast. According to the Daily News, August 31, 2006, the firm would like to develop the roughly “4 acre” land at the back of the property and put in a 5 single-family home subdivision.

Newburyport Planning Board
Wednesday, September 6th
7:00 PM at City Hall
75 High Street
Wheelwright Property
ANR – Approval Not Required – Subdivision

And a very big “thank you” to Ulrika Gerth and the Newburyport Current for the front page story on Save Our Town in yesterday’s paper, September 1, 2006. The Newburyport Current also has a great story on the Wheelwright property.

Mary Eaton
Newburyport

Newburyport, The Ridge is in Real Trouble

The rape of the Ridge has begun. This is one of my worst nightmares for Newburyport, MA.

The “Ridge” is the area on High Street on the upper side of the roadway that goes roughly from State Street to about Lime Street. It is one of the most beautiful and stately areas of High Street and one of the most beautiful parts of Newburyport, MA.

And folks we have been sold out by the Board of the Wheelwright House, the realtor that listed the property and the lawyer, who ironically was Newburyport’s Mayor for 3 terms and the Mayor under whose administration the Newburyport Master Plan took shape, former Mayor Lisa Mead.

To say that I am beside my self is an understatement. I really thought long and hard about using the phrase the “rape of the Ridge,” but this morning I thought it was more than appropriate.

And many thanks to Stephanie Chelf and the Newburyport Daily News for putting this story on the front page and also having the aerial view of the entire property on page A8.

According to the Newburyport Daily News, August 31, 2006, the property was bought by Todd Smith and Peter Nordbloom of Willis Lane Investments, LLC. Both men are officials of Nordblom Real Estate Solutions of Burlington, “one of the regions largest real estate and commercial property firms.” Believe me, they do not have our best interest at heart.

The firm bought the entire property for $1.6 million. The property is “nearly 5 acres.” That’s a lot of land folks.

Willis Lane Investments, LLC has already put the Wheelwright House, the historic gardens and the carriage house back on the market for $1.3 million. The house and the carriage house “are protected through a preservation restriction that prevents alteration or demolition.” The historic gardens are not protected and it doesn’t mean that the Wheelwright House and carriage house could not be converted to condominiums.

And basically the rest of the property was bought for $300,000…not a bad price folks. And the firm would like to develop the roughly “4 acre” land at the back of the property and put in a 5 single-family home subdivision.

This is on the Ridge.

It sounds from the paper that the firm will have to get a number of permits for the “subdivision proposal.” Thank goodness for that.

Let us not welcome these folks to town. Let us make their lives as miserable as possible. I cannot imagine that the Newburyport Planning Board or residents of this City would be amenable to this proposal.

And for goodness sakes let us start pestering our City officials, especially the Newburyport City Council for zoning amendments that protect our historic assets. This project alone helps destroy our economic vitality.

Mary Eaton
Newburyport

Newburyport, 30-32 Marlboro Street

If we are lucky enough, Matthew Pieniazek, who bought 30-32 Marlboro Street (the property that goes all the way back to Hancock Street,) might not demolish the front of the c.1850 house. His own engineer says the historic house is structurally sound.

For me, the first thing we as a community could do is lobby Mr. Pieniazek not to demolish 30-32 Marlboro Street.

A big “thank you” to Newburyport’s Historical Commission for putting on a 12 month demolition delay on this project. Personally, I appreciate that a whole lot. What an incredible loss that would be.

I think the neighbors are very fearful that something really terrible will happen to that property, that massive condominiums could go in, and that Mr. Pieniazek is rescuing them and that he is their only hope.

It is my understanding that the property is not zoned for a massive condominium unit. So I think the neighbors could relax and start thinking about what would be good for them and what would be good for the City of Newburyport, MA.

Whatever ends up going there, Mr. Pieniazek plans to turn a deeded two family home into a one family (roughly 4,000 square foot) house. That’s a big house.

Why is this a bad thing?

This one goes back to trying to keep Newburyport’s local neighborhood character. And this is having a McMansion in a neighborhood that is not about McMansions.

For me, this is an example of one of those projects that incrementally erodes Newburyport’s economic base for short-term economic gain.

It is also one more example of how Newburyport’s Historic District has absolutely no protection. And it is just one more reason to start lobbying our public officials for zoning amendments that protect our historic heritage, which is vital to our economic survival.

Mary Eaton
Newburyport

Newburyport, What Has Happened to a Beautiful City?

I don’t believe I know Ellen Sklar-Abbott, but she wrote a terrific Letter to the Editor in yesterday’s Newburyport Daily News, August 29, 2006.

The letter is headed “What happened to my city?”

To quote from Ms Sklar-Abbott:

“When I first moved here, there were very strong efforts to keep the downtown from being torn down and a Kmart from being built in Market Square! First it creeps in slowly, a McMansion here, a franchise there, then the charm and the land are gone forever. Don’t say it won’t happen here—it already has and it is so sad. Maybe some call it progress, I call it thoughtless.”

I couldn’t agree more.

And a very big “thank you” to Stephanie Chelf and the Newburyport Daily News for the front page story on Save Our Town in today’s Newburyport Daily News, August 30, 2006.

Mary Eaton
Newburyport

Newburyport, Woodman Property

The minutes for the Newburyport Zoning Board of Appeals for August 22, 2006 are not up yet on the City’s website because they have to be approved at the next meeting.

But, Albert Decie of Citizens for Environmental Balance (CEB) attended the meeting and passed this on in an email:

“Woodman Farm AKA the Seaport Village 40B project… The lawyer, I believe his name to be Healy, has set up a meeting for 8/30 with the mayor to ask the city to drop the land court case, which might otherwise continue for a year or more. The specifics of the developer’s request to the mayor were not divulged…”

Mr. Decie is concerned. So am I.

So, this Wednesday, August 30, 2006 the developer will ask the Mayor John Moak to drop the land court case. Please see the post “Newuryport, Massachusetts, Woodman Property and Mayor Moak” for more information on the project. You can also put “Woodman Property” in the search box at the right side of the blog and all blog posts concerning this issue will come up.

I wasn’t sure who has the authority to take the Woodman property out of Land Court. I’ve asked around and I believe that the Mayor as “Chief Executive Officer of the City” has that authority (please see the Newburyport Political Blog’s guidelines for disclaimer.) It is my understanding that Mayor Moak could instruct the City Solicitor to settle or drop the case.

Cynic that I am, I assume that this was always the “game plan.” That for reasons I still do not understand, Mayor John Moak would not mind seeing a huge 40B project in that spot.

So if this is an issue that you care about, I would give the Mayor a call or an email and contact your Newburyport City Councilor.

Mary Eaton
Newburyport

Newburyport, Our Luck Has Changed

We had been amazingly lucky for a long, long time. After Urban Renewal started in the 1970’s, people already in town and people who moved here were excited about restoring the rest of Newburyport’s Historic District.

People were rescuing old, often neglected properties, some that had been broken up into apartments, and would repair and restore the structure.

For quite a while we were pretty good stewards of our own unique American Story. We were lucky. And somehow our luck has changed.

And, for a whole variety of reasons, we have no protection. There are no zoning amendments that protect our historic heritage. That’s crazy.

I know I am going “on and on and on” about this, but I don’t want to lose what makes Newburyport MA unique.

I think about what could have happened to High Street back in 1999. Part of what makes us economically vibrant would have been wiped out and we never, ever would have gotten it back.

All the trees would have been gone and the road would have been straightened and narrowed. All the carriage steps and hitching posts that are scattered along the roadway, which are like hidden treasures, would have been wiped out. Along the Ridge from State Street to about Temple Street, people would have lost part of their property and a large retaining wall would have been put there to create another turning lane. Who knows what in the world would have happened to our statue of George Washington, no plan for that one.

The same thing is happening now, only it’s happening incrementally. We are losing a house here a house there. Large oversize structures pepper Newburyport’s Historic District changing local neighborhood character. It is happening so slowly, we hardly notice that it’s happening at all until it is too late.

What if we took all those changes and put them along High Street, the damage would not seem incremental—it would seem dramatic.

So why aren’t we pestering our City government for amendments to the zoning code that protects what we have left? It seems like we need to start thinking about doing that.

And since Christopher Ryan has decided not to be our next Planning Director, maybe it would be a good idea to start lobbying the Mayor (who picks Newburyport’s Planning Director) for someone who has a strong background in Historic Preservation and would know how to help us keep what we have—what makes us economically alive.

Mary Eaton
Newburyport

Newburyport, Vertical Sprawl, Historic Heritage

I keep thinking about an earlier post on the “positive aspects of infill.”

It is my own impression that in the 1980’s and early to mid 1990’s we did experience positive infill. Houses in Newburyport’s Historic District were repaired and restored, reasonably sized additions were built; one could argue that the infill on a street like Lime Street, whether or not one agrees with the architectural style, actually helped lower crime in that area. In fact “infill” and restoration helped cut down on crime in Newburyport, something that “positive infill” is supposed to do.

We are not alone in the fact that we are at the edge, if not over the edge of over development. Gentrification and displacement of lower and middle class families, along with the loss of neighborhood character are happening in other places the United States along with Newburyport, MA.

There is now a new buzz word for what we are experiencing –“vertical sprawl.” From what I gather not everyone in the planning community likes the term “vertical sprawl,” but it appears to be catching on. People are sighting places like Brooklyn, NY…slightly larger than Newburyport, MA.

And people are wrestling with this issue and what to do about it.

I think in our community we could say, “wait a minute, there is a problem, let’s slow down and think about what is happening to Newburyport, MA.” That is my hope for Save Our Town—that we could raise public awareness and change the climate of demolition and replication to one of the protection of our historic heritage, which would include, historic structures, historic landscapes and local neighborhood character.

I’ve talked to many folks who think that it’s too late—too much of Newburyport has been destroyed. It is my own opinion that there is still plenty left, and that if we speak up, we can make a difference. But we need to speak up now.

So take a free bumper sticker and put it on your car. Take a flier and pass it on to your neighbors and friends. Sign the petition and let other people know about it. If we each do one small thing, I think that together we can make a really big difference.

Mary Eaton
Newburyport

Save Our Town—Newburyport, MA bumper sticker