by Frank Schroth
The House and Senate passed bill H. 4332 which will allow the town to exchange the portion of Hendries property it owns in exchange for demolition of its portion of the building and an agreement to build a mixed use development. The bill passed before the legislature’s formal session ended last night. Two bills, S. 2166 and H. 4191, which would allow the town to award liquor licenses for restuarants apparently did not.
The Hendries legislation will provide another, possibly final chance, to have the property at the corner of Eliot and Central developed for commercial and residential use. Town Meeting passed an article allowing that use several years ago. The developer, Carrick Realty, went before the Planning Board for a special permit for a mixed use development but it was denied by the board for failing to comply with zoning.
A subsequent attempt was made last summer by Senator Joyce to revisit the proposal. A group met informally but an agreement could not be reached. Carrick is currently pursuing a 40B apartment development for the site. The Board of Appeals opened a hearing on that last Thursday. The town and Carrick are party to an agreement independent of any development that calls for both parties to take down their portions of the building by the end of September.
Senator Joyce, who has been a strong advocate of mixed use development on the site, said, “I appreciate the prompt action by the Board of Selectmen and by our neighbor, Governor Patrick, along with the very diligent efforts of State Representative Dan Cullinane in getting this bill passed so quickly,” said Senator Joyce. “Our hope and expectation is that this legislation will help turn a blighted property into an engine for further economic development.”
Joyce has previously helped secure over $3 million toward the economic redevelopment of the Central Avenue and Milton Village business districts, along with millions more for the clean-up and restoration of the adjacent Neponset River.
A small cadre of shops and the recent addition of Steel & Rye restaurant up the street have injected a commercial vibrancy to the small district. It is now up to the Selectmen and Planning Board to craft a proposal that will bring Carrick to the negotiating table.
Liquor licenses that would go to two East Milton restaurants did not yet pass. One is for Mr. Chan’s and the other for a proposed restaurant at the site of the old East Milton movie theater (next to East Milton Barber Shop). The Facloni Companies, owners of the movie theater space, were hopeful that the bill would pass before the formal legislative session ended. Without a liquor license they cannot pursue a restaurant tenant. The legislature will continue to meet every 72 hours. The issue for the Falconi company is time. If they cannot secure a license in a timely fashion, they may need to abandon the idea of a restaurant and look at alternative an alternative development such as apartments. Mr. Chan wants to put in a sit down restaurant next to his take out spot. Both parties need to wait and see.