Published in the February 22, 2017 edition
By DAN TOMASELLO
LYNNFIELD — The ongoing saga of cleaning up the Perley Burrill property is starting to gain traction, Selectmen Chairman Phil Crawford told the Villager last week.
The selectmen voted to foreclose on the 914 Salem St. property last August for failing to pay back taxes to the town. The selectmen were able to foreclose on the property because the Brownfields Act allows cities and towns to foreclose on properties for non-payment of taxes. The state law also ensures towns are not liable for any environmental clean up costs.
Crawford said the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) approved the town’s plan to raze the front building located on the property but said the town needed to develop an asbestos abatement plan. He said the plan has been filed with the state.
“It’s moving forward,” said Crawford. “We are in the beginning stages of getting prices for contractors. The demolition will most likely start in the next couple of weeks.”
Crawford acknowledged the matter is taking longer than local officials hoped.
“We have to secure the property,” said Crawford. “We got an emergency order from the state, but it has taken three months.”
After the Perley Burrill property is cleaned up, the town will put out a request for proposals (RFP) and the site will be sold on the open market.
