Choice of MBTA garage locations narrowed to two down to two

By Paul Leighton
Staff writer

October 03, 2008 05:30 am

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BEVERLY — The MBTA has narrowed its choice of location for a new parking garage to two, Mayor Bill Scanlon said.

But neither Scanlon nor the MBTA is saying where those locations are.

The MBTA plans to build an $18.5 million garage somewhere within 800 feet of the train depot on Park Street but needs to first buy property on which to build it. The agency received five proposals from property owners in August.

Scanlon said yesterday the MBTA has narrowed that list to two. He said the agency does not want to release the exact locations until one has been picked.

"They're working hard on it and they're paying a lot of attention to it," Scanlon said.

Windover Development President Lee Dellicker said in August that his company would "definitely" offer to sell the MBTA one of two parcels the company owns near the depot. Dellicker did not return a phone call yesterday.

The MBTA plans to buy the land and then seek a developer to build the garage, which would also include condominiums or apartments and stores or office space.

The MBTA would own and operate the parking garage, while the developer would lease the space for housing and retail.