A frightening new breed of developer for Newburyport, MA, Ouch.

Mr. Minot Frye apparently has set his sights on Newburyport, Massachusetts.

Mr. Frye is a developer from Wenham, Massachusetts. The address I have is 16 Grapevine Road. (Minot is an old Massachusetts name, going back to the 1600’s.) As I understand it, Minot Frye has formed an equity firm, private money (“old money” I would suppose) to reinvest, I gather in this case in Newburyport real estate, to make investors even more money.

Minot Frye is the gentleman who bought 11-13 Ship Street, yes, that wonderful federalist with the orchard that so many of us love.

No ray of hope apparently. It appears that the plea for restoration has fallen on deaf ears.

Demolition, I gather, is the name of the game and yes, the orchard goes. And I gather, not even building a replica in kind, (alas, how far my bar has fallen.)

From what I know an architectural firm (I believe it is Dyer Brown and Associates in Boston) has come up with several versions of what might go on this piece of property. I’ve been told that the latest version is two Georgian style condos, connected and to be built back to back. Ouch. (11-13 Ship Street is a deeded two family.)

I’ve also been told that Mr. Minot Frye had his eye on 96 High Street, but the owner who sold it didn’t want to wait and see if whatever the project Mr. Frye had in mind (3 units, I’m told?) would go through the Newburyport Zoning Board of Appeals (apparently there were other more appealing offers.) Ouch, one more time.

And I am also told that Mr. Frye is actively looking for property to develop in Newburyport, MA. Look out folks.

Moneyed people with “taste,” “old money” and deep, deep pockets, looking to make yet more money off Newburyport, Massachusetts. It is the opinion of this local Newburyport blogger, that clearly if Mr. Frye is planning to demolish 11-13 Ship Street, and my, my putting up who knows what, that in my book, this is not a good sign.

If one can hire an architectural firm and go through several versions already, surely the money for restoration would be possible. Don’t folks with names that go back to the 1600’s care about historic preservation?

Mary Eaton
Newburyport