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Visions For Vacancies

Sunday, April 7, 2013

What Should Go Here?

What Should Fill Up the Plaza at 79 Lynnfield St?

There are still two empty commercial storefronts at the South Peabody plaza.

The controversy over Dunkin' Donuts has long since died down, but there are still two empty storefronts at the plaza at 79 Lynnfield St. -- one next to the coffee shop and the other a few units down next to H&R Block. The two empty units have been vacant for a few years now. Is there another type of business you think that area is still missing? What would be a good fit for the plaza? Leave your suggestions in the comment section below.

Tuesday, March 12, 2013

What Should Go Here?

What Should Go Here at 202 Newbury St.?

This strip mall along Route 1 has emptied out in recent years.

Aside from Martino's and a Bank of America Home Loans office, the retail strip mall at 202 Newbury St. (Route 1) is an empty island along the highway. The property used to be home to Countrywide Home Loans and a few other businesses, but emptied out and has been largely vacant for the past few years. Currently, 6,000 square feet of space is available for lease, according to an online listing. So readers, anything in particular you'd like to see in this area of Route 1? Anything missing from the landscape you think would be a good fit here? Let us know in the comment section below.

Monday, January 28, 2013

What Should Go Here at 15 Wallis St?

What would you like to see happen with this vacant lot downtown?

Sunday, January 27, 2013

What Should Go Here?

What Should Go Here at 15 Wallis St?

What would you like to see happen with this vacant lot downtown?

The commercial building that used to occupy 15 Wallis St. was knocked down a while ago in anticipation of a new downtown post office being built there and work on the canal that runs underneath the site. The plans for the new post office, however, appear to have fallen through and the existing branch next-door will remain indefinitely while flood work slated for that section of the North River still awaits a green light from the mayor's office. Any action on the downtown flood mitigation project is on hold, says Mayor Ted Bettencourt, until consultants complete the full schematic designs, cost estimates and project schedule, which he expects to receive any day now. In the meantime, 15 Wallis St. remains a vacant, overgrown and fenced-in …

Russ

7:18 pm on Monday, January 28, 2013

How about widening the North River. Good place to start. We do flood down there you know! As for the youth center, Have you heard? We do have a YMCA in Peabody! There's a new one in Salem! Of course if you want something for nothing ask the Taxpayer how much more they can afford to spend! But first get the city to stop taxing Peabody parents for student extra-curricular activities including …   more ›

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

What Should Go Here at 18 Howley St.?

This vacant plot downtown has been empty for years.

Even to the casual observer driving along Main Street, it's hard to miss this swath of vacant land. The property at 18 Howley St. -- about three acres -- is located behind the Holy Ghost Society Cultural Center and has sat relatively untouched for years. The land was slated for 200 units of residential condos until the economy and housing market forestalled those plans several years ago. The city finally refused to extend permits for the property in 2008 after a few years with little to no activity on the site and run-ins with conservation officials on proper site maintenance. The Azorean Brotherhood eventually purchased the property for $675,000 in 2008 and has mulled plans for an assisted living facility and mix of residential units, but…

Lisa Hanson

8:29 pm on Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Low income housing for the 55+. Peabody needs more and it is a great location because groceries and perscriptions are within walking distance.   more ›

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

What Should Go Here at 70 Endicott St.?

Home to Peabody's original Electric Light Plant.

It's been several years since the property at 70 Endicott St. was in active use. The building does have local historic value -- construction began in 1891 and finished the following year on Peabody's first Electric Light Plant. Town officials at the time had to file special legislation to operate a municipal utility after being overturned in court...but that's a story for another day. The Peabody Municipal Light Plant discontinued all use of the building and turned it over to the city in 2002 for the School Department to use for central offices. That continued until 2006. In the years since, the city has tried on multiple occasions to sell or lease the property, but all without success for a variety of reasons. Some of the proposals for …

Calvin

11:28 am on Wednesday, December 26, 2012

I would like to see it torn down.   more ›

Sunday, December 9, 2012

What Should Go Here?

What Should Go Here at 100 Foster St.?

What would you like to see in this vacant lot downtown?

This vacant plot here at 100 Foster St. was once home to Angel's Auto Sales and sits between Champions Pub on one side and another now vacant building at the corner of Birney Street. The property, which is less than a half acre and contains a small office, is zoned now for General Business and is owned by a company in Arkansas. What would you like to see go in here? Another used car dealership? Something else? Let us know in the comment section below.

Russ

10:08 am on Friday, January 4, 2013

Perhaps the city should "take" the land for open space and lease portions for parking to neighboring businesses and residents. I'm sure they could use our CPA monies for the purchase. Then the city would be responsible for cleaning up the property. Violators could be towed. No question. The city could use it as an impound lot for violators of the "snow ban" etc. City Hall employees could park and…   more ›

Sunday, September 16, 2012

What Should Go Here?

What Should Go Here at 167 Washington St?

What would you like to see at the Comcast/Water Works building?

The property at 167 Washington St. has been vacant or only marginally used for several years -- the Comcast signs are still on the building -- despite being located in a busy intersection in Downtown Peabody. Well, it turns out that new owner Gary Nadeau of Salem is trying to ink a deal with a financial institution, be it a bank or credit union, to take up residence at the corner of Washington and Foster streets. The City Council unanimously approved a special permit for a drive-through window Thursday night with a couple conditions: the drive-up service can't be for fast food and if in the future the business operation there changes from a financial institution, a new permit will be needed from the council to utilize the drive-through. …

Calvin

1:30 pm on Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Tear it down and use the space for an easy turn on to Washington St. The building looks like a dump and why add more traffic by turning it into a bank, there are enough already.   more ›

Sunday, September 2, 2012

What Should Go Here?

What Should Go Here at 37 Cross St.?

This land on Cross Street next to Long's Jewelers and across from the Northshore Mall has been vacant for some time. What would you like to see go in here?

This land on Cross Street next to Long's Jewelers and across from the Northshore Mall has been vacant for some time. What would you like to see go in here? The land is for sale and is zoned for Regional Business with a 4,388-square-foot building. Let us know your suggestions in the comments section below.

Calvin

1:35 pm on Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Dirt, grass and trees would be nice.   more ›

Friday, July 20, 2012

What Should Go Here?

What Should Go Here at 108 Newbury St?

This Dunkin' Donuts shop has sat vacant for the past several months since a new location opened in the fall just up the road.

So while we're thinking about Dunkin' Donuts, what do you think should go in over at the empty store now on Route 1 South? The Scrivanos Group out of North Reading opened its brand new shop in October just up the road in a new plaza at 124 Newbury St. The location at 108 Newbury St. since then has sat vacant. Would you like to see a similar use -- a fast food restaurant, perhaps -- come in or something completely different for this section of Route 1? Let us know your ideas in the comments section below.

Frank B

10:48 pm on Sunday, August 26, 2012

Would you like to see a chicken wings restaurant?   more ›

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