Haverhill’s largest-ever LGBTQA+ Pride Flag-raising Thursday afternoon kicked off Pride Month during a ceremony outside Haverhill City Hall. Haverhill City Councilor Thomas J. Sullivan served as master of ceremonies, thanking residents for joining in the celebration. “Today, I am especially proud of my city for recognizing and celebrating the importance and value of all our […]
By John Lee Grant |
5 hours ago
Architect Matthew E. Juros in front of the 86 Essex St., Haverhill, building that was approved for redevelopment. (WHAV News photograph.)
One of city’s last remaining mill buildings will see new life as a combination residential and commercial building in the heart of downtown Haverhill.
The Haverhill City Council gave the okay last night to Boston-based Rise Development to restore the building at 86 Essex St., creating 42 apartments as well as a number of ground floor commercial spaces. Donald F. Borenstein, a lawyer representing the developer, described the property.
“It’s an interesting building. It comes to sort of a point in one corner. Built in 1910, been vacant or at least well underutilized for decades. It’s one of the last remaining, undeveloped mill buildings in the core of the downtown. I really see it as, sort of, one of the last missing teeth in what has become a pretty bright smile in downtown Haverhill,” he told councilor
By John Lee Grant |
Rendering of proposed six-story, 18-unit building at 15 Middlesex St., Bradford.
Despite concerns over a lack of parking, the Haverhill City Council gave approval last night to the construction of an 18-unit apartment building on the site of the former Arthur Sharp Hardware store on Middlesex Street near the Roma Restaurant.
Developer Alan Sfeir petitioned the Council to approve three zoning ordinance waivers for his riverfront property plan. Those included allowing 18 units on the quarter-acre site which is only zoned for five, allowing a 91-foot-tall building where there is a height restriction of 55 feet and allowing 18 parking spaces rather than the required 27. Adding to the parking issue, the developer previously agreed to a stipulation he provide access to the Mayor James J. Fiorentini Bradford Rail Trail including providing spaces for public parking.
By John Lee Grant |
5 hours ago
Haverhill City Councilor Joseph J. Bevilacqua presented this photograph as evidence of the private trash collection problem downtown. (Courtesy photograph.)
The Haverhill City Council meeting included some trash talking this past Tuesday.
City Councilor Joseph J. Bevilacqua presented a photograph he took of an overflowing dumpster downtown, using it as example of what he cited as an ongoing issue.
“This is a continual problem with dumpsters that are overflowing and in the public view where we encourage people to visit and shop and spend money and live. The other problem is that when the dumpsters are emptied, the trash that you see on the left side of the dumpster is not picked up. That’s left there, which is a public health hazard, I believe, and a safety hazard,” he said.
By John Lee Grant |
Haverhill City Hall. (WHAV News file photograph.)
The Haverhill City Council endorsed two plans Tuesday to protect the city’s rural areas particularly those that could affect Haverhill’s water supply.
The first, introduced by Councilor John A. Michitson, called for a City Council Planning and Development Committee meeting to address the current zoning practices regarding residential growth in rural areas.
“I recommend that (Economic and Planning Director) Bill Pillsbury present the current zoning and protections to the Council and that the master plan consultant, Utile, present examples of what other communities are doing to manage residential growth in rural neighborhoods,” Michitson said.