Developers could pull back parcel

This is just ridiculous!!!! The fairgrounds look horrible and are a waste of space. Maybe the town could use the $450,000 that wasn't used on the outrageous fire station and forgive the lien and back taxes. It is so sad that the space can't be made into something nice for the residence and even for the second homeowners!!!!! GET A GRIP GB!!!!!!

How's this for a newsflash. I don't care!

Two Words:
Eminent Domain.

HellerCarbonCapNTradeCo wrote:

Two Words:
Eminent Domain.

The last time GB tried to take land by eminent domain they not only lost in court but had to come up with @ 2.4 million after court costs and fines. It is not a good idea, since we have the same legal council and a bad Board of Selectmen.

pat the painter wrote:

<quoted text>
The last time GB tried to take land by eminent domain they not only lost in court but had to come up with @ 2.4 million after court costs and fines. It is not a good idea, since we have the same legal council and a bad Board of Selectmen.

That was then, this is now.
The U.S. Supreme Court made a ruling sometime in the last few years in favor of a Connecticut municipality regarding eminent domain.
It might apply to this situation.
But you're spot-on regarding the quality of the Town Counsel and Board of Selectmen.
Incompetent bunch.

the first thing that has to happen is the developers have to face the reality that they paid way too much for the property. who in their right mind pays 2.7 million dollars for property with 2 strikes agaisst it in the first place ? 1- in a flood plain, 2- it's in business un-frienly gt. barrington/south county. let the developers delay all they want, let's see the town get aggressive in collecting the back taxes. nevermind eminent domain, take it for the taxes ! why are they allowed to get 60,000 behind in taxes in the first place ?

brush ill bob wrote:

the first thing that has to happen is the developers have to face the reality that they paid way too much for the property. who in their right mind pays 2.7 million dollars for property with 2 strikes agaisst it in the first place ? 1- in a flood plain, 2- it's in business un-frienly gt. barrington/south county. let the developers delay all they want, let's see the town get aggressive in collecting the back taxes. nevermind eminent domain, take it for the taxes ! why are they allowed to get 60,000 behind in taxes in the first place ?

With interest and fines it will be more than that. I asked Buddy about that the other day in fact. Got a fuzzy non answer though.

Takings and foreclosures for liens for back taxes are cumbersome and time consuming endeavors. And, if all the naysayers are right - why would the Town want to take on this project, particularly after the debacle of Searles School?

It sold for 2.7 mill way over value because it was an internal family sale...one of those house of cards mortgage inflators. Town should go to court for taxes immediately or go for ownership. Once owned, "give" it to the development that will put the right type of business in there and get it onto the tax roles. Who cares about purchase price if it broadens the tax base.

why are we so un-creative w.r.t. development here in Massachusetts. It is as if the liberal mindset says we hate business and development while the other strange part of mass culture, total acceptance of corruption come together to ensure that the people don't properly advocate for their local government doing what is right for development while out of state or Eastern state business interests rape and pillage our resources.

I've opined for some time, but pointlessly as I no longer have any interests in GB, that the town should strike a deal to take most of the flood plain into town, state or conservation ownership as a park/reserve/hiking area and spin off a 200 foot deep strip along Rt. 7, the only valuable part for development, and encourage a street level development that would leave the flood plain, below, untouched.

We have severely restrictive wetlands laws in Mass...some of the strongest (after CT) and it would seem to me a creative and able to negotiate town management could make it clear that 95% of the property cannot be developed so better to strike a deal with the town.

Take the non valuable land in lieu of taxes, adjust the assessment and get the developable part marketed to a company that has the resources to do this.

Of course this isn't something the town can just do, the current owners have to be brought to the table. In business this is called negotiation and persuasion, bringing parties together with a similar goal and making sure they see there is only one equitable solution.

I bet it would be worth more than the $1MM or so we think it is now as there would be no burdon of managing all that land. We could reduce the current owners loss, recoup value for the unpaid taxes, improve the town's green space and have a strong influence on what is put on the remaining parcel.

Why is that so hard to see as an opportunity? Why are towns passive about this stuff? Pick up the phone, call the owners and inform them you intend to strike a deal and here are the downsides (wetlands) to not working with the town.

I know, the answer involves understanding why they end up in public sector jobs with less competition by succesful people.

My expectations of humans are often way too high.

religion kills wrote:

why are we so un-creative w.r.t. development here in Massachusetts. It is as if the liberal mindset says we hate business and development while the other strange part of mass culture, total acceptance of corruption come together to ensure that the people don't properly advocate for their local government doing what is right for development while out of state or Eastern state business interests rape and pillage our resources.
I've opined for some time, but pointlessly as I no longer have any interests in GB, that the town should strike a deal to take most of the flood plain into town, state or conservation ownership as a park/reserve/hiking area and spin off a 200 foot deep strip along Rt. 7, the only valuable part for development, and encourage a street level development that would leave the flood plain, below, untouched.
We have severely restrictive wetlands laws in Mass...some of the strongest (after CT) and it would seem to me a creative and able to negotiate town management could make it clear that 95% of the property cannot be developed so better to strike a deal with the town.
Take the non valuable land in lieu of taxes, adjust the assessment and get the developable part marketed to a company that has the resources to do this.
Of course this isn't something the town can just do, the current owners have to be brought to the table. In business this is called negotiation and persuasion, bringing parties together with a similar goal and making sure they see there is only one equitable solution.
I bet it would be worth more than the $1MM or so we think it is now as there would be no burdon of managing all that land. We could reduce the current owners loss, recoup value for the unpaid taxes, improve the town's green space and have a strong influence on what is put on the remaining parcel.
Why is that so hard to see as an opportunity? Why are towns passive about this stuff? Pick up the phone, call the owners and inform them you intend to strike a deal and here are the downsides (wetlands) to not working with the town.
I know, the answer involves understanding why they end up in public sector jobs with less competition by succesful people.
My expectations of humans are often way too high.

Whatever...

religion kills wrote:

My expectations of humans are often way too high.

Yeah, if only the rest of us had your wisdom, tolerance, and humility.

HellerCarbonCapNTradeCo wrote:

<quoted text>
Yeah, if only the rest of us had your wisdom, tolerance, and humility.

Well, you and Sam seem to prove my point. It simply astounds me that people can't work together to solve this. The solution is right in front of their eyes.

Yet you two reply the way you did instead of improving my idea or pointing out why it won't work....not surprised, I guess.