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IN BOARD OF ALDERMEN
REAL PROPERTY REUSE COMMITTEE REPORT
TUESDAY, MARCH 25, 2003
Present:
Ald. Gerst (Vice Chairman), Ald. Bryson (Chairman), Ald. Salvucci, Yates,
and Schnipper
Absent:
Ald. Basham, Ciccone, and Fischman
Also present:
Ald. Lennon and Merrill
City staff: Juris Alksnitis (Planning), Catherine Farrell and Eileen McGettigan (Law)
#58-03(2) ANTHONY & LOUISE TUCCI seeking easements from the City for existing driveway constructed over a city-owned easement at 189-191 Jackson Road, Newton Corner.
ACTION:
APPROVED 5-0
NOTE: The committee discussed a letter to the committee from the property owner's lawyer Stephen Buchbinder reiterating, for purposes of determining an appropriate minimum price, that the property owners sought only easements over a preexisting Laundry Brook culvert, not title to the property itself. In a memo to the Board, City Assessor Elizabeth Dromey had previously imputed a higher value to easements on the basis of recent empty parcel land sales. Ms. McGettigan indicated that, for technical reasons, she divided the single proposed easement into multiple parts. Ald. Salvucci moved a nominal $1 minimum price for the easements, and Ald. Bryson proposed that the Tucci family indemnify the city for any claims and potential lawsuits deriving from their use of the easements. Ald. Schnipper expressed support for the proposed price and conditions; Ward One Aldermen Lennon, Merrill, and Gerst all affirmed their support for the proposed minimum price and conditions of the easements.
# 35-03(2)
CATHY & ROBERT HEENAN, 15 Belmont Street, DEBORAH &
DAVID O'ROURKE, 56 Waverley Avenue, and CYBILL & JOEL GOLDBERG,
248 Tremont Street, offer to purchase the so-called Bell Estate property located
off Waverley Avenue, known as Section 72 Block12, Lots 23, 23A, and 24,
containing approximately 12,692 square feet of land in the aggregate, declared
surplus by the City.
ACTION:
APPROVED 5-0
NOTE: The committee reviewed previously proposed restrictions and an additional restriction proposed by the offerers lawyer Jason Rosenberg, which would subject mature trees on this parcel to protections similar to those provided by the Newton tree ordinance. Ms. Farrell reiterated that, by effect of this proposed sale, the parcels, formerly acquired by the city in foreclosure, would once again generate real estate tax revenues for the city. The committee reviewed the city treasurer's computation of back taxes and interest due on the three parcels, noting that, of the treasurer's total, approximately $32,000-$35,000 constituted back taxes. In Ald. Salvucci's view, to return these parcels to the tax roll would achieve significant public benefit, but to assess these residents additionally for interest due on tax arrearages they themselves had not created would achieve no public benefit. Ald. Bryson moved approval of the use and restrictions proposed in the attorney's offering letter, subject to a minimum price of $30,000, noting that this proposed minimum roughly equals back taxes due.
Respectfully submitted,
Ald. Robert Gerst, Vice Chairman