PEABODY — The city's effort to rejuvenate its downtown involves breathing life into dormant property.
That means trying to implement zoning to encourage redevelopment of abandoned buildings and giving new purpose to open space. Toward that end, Mayor Michael Bonfanti has proposed buying roughly an acre of land at 45 Walnut St. to turn into a park.
"We've been looking around for a suitable piece (of land)," Bonfanti said. "It would tie into the Riverwalk, and it would be a green area, which would really enhance the Walnut Street area."
The land is the former home of New England Sportswear, a company that worked with leather and suede as part of its sneaker manufacturing. Its history likely means that the land suffered some contamination, but the city isn't yet aware of the scope.
"We've got preliminary information on the environmental assessment," said Community Development Director Jean Delios. "We're working with our consultants to get a clearer picture of what (the contamination) really is."
The city is hoping to secure grant money to buy the land. The mayor last week asked the City Council to endorse a motion that would authorize borrowing $450,000 once the city receives the necessary grants. The city would then be reimbursed through the grant funding it acquires, Delios said.
The council referred the mayor's request to the Industrial & Community Development Committee. The committee will discuss the park purchase at its meeting on May 29.
The cost of the land would not necessarily be $450,000.
"We haven't gotten the appraisal back, but that's the asking price," Delios said. "We would have to go through a negotiation process on the purchase price."
If need be, the land would be capped to solve any contamination problems. It's a practice done to many parks throughout the state, Bonfanti said.
"It would just enhance the livability in the city," the mayor said of the park.
