Outlet mall work gets started

[Tom Mahon]

I have been reminded that the Protest Petition requires the owners of 20% of the abutting PROPERTIES to sign on, not 20% of the owners. Sorry for the error. My thanks for the corrections.

[RayWhipple]

Finally, we are getting started on the long awaited and certainly needed mall. It can add to the already empty spaces available for lease in town. It is even creating jobs for Massachusetts companies. I for one am very proud of our town government. Especially the Town Manager, the Town Council and the Planning Board. You guys are mmmmm, it’s hard to find the proper words to describe this team. Time for Sponge Bob.

This coming form a person who puts nudity on his pathetic hate filled website. Glad most people don't think like you.

[Michael Thompson]

Finally, we are getting started on the long awaited and certainly needed mall. It can add to the already empty spaces available for lease in town. It is even creating jobs for Massachusetts companies. I for one am very proud of our town government. Especially the Town Manager, the Town Council and the Planning Board. You guys are mmmmm, it’s hard to find the proper words to describe this team. Time for Sponge Bob.

I take it you are poking fun at the TM, TC and PB. I just want to point out that it was the town residents that voted for this, the TM, TC and PB had to abide by the laws and regulations once the zoning changed was passed.

Mike, This is not exactly true. It was PB that voted in favor of moving the zoning change to town wide election. They voted against moving the zoning change to town meeting in at least two prior occasions. Its a waste of time to argue whether it was the right thing to do, or not. I am just pointing this out.

Ok, so the planning board moved it to a vote, I agree.

Then the abutters tried to get a super majority, at the time of the vote it seemed the calculation was correct.

The town voted, the vote was a simple majority in favor of it. Not super majority. (for the record, I was not in favor of the mall nor the zoning change)

Chelsea challenged the super majority and won based off technicalities and also buying property/offering to buy property I believe. (please correct me if I'm incorrect)

I still believe that the towns people are the ones that voted in favor of the Mall.

[Jamie MacFarland]

Yes Mike you are correct...

The project must be getting MUCH closer. I got a letter from Maine Drilling and Blasting today about a "Preblast Survey", the same company that is doing the blasting, wants to do the survey as well. The future of facing many months of blasting, I believe over 1 million cubic yards of rock(one of the largest blasting projects the state has seen), is very concerning. I am not so much worried about noise, but damage to structures. Obviously I wish the project on this land would have been less intense, resulting in less or no blasting. This was certainly possible. Unfortunately the Planning Board, Townspeople, ect thought otherwise. Unfortunately, they will be blasting much more rock than I expected would occur. I wish I could say the Planning Board was careful in its review of blasting issues. Unfortunately I do not feel they were careful enough. Lets just hope there are no damage to homes or worse yet, people.

[Debra Huffman]

Lets just hope there are no damage to homes or worse yet, people.

Let's not forget that we have to be careful about damange to water. Remember when Home Depot's blasting ruined wells in the adjacent neighborhood? I believe I recall the Chelsea folks being required to do things differently from the Home Depot folks, but still I'm very, very concerned about blasting affecting wells and water quality. Our officials have had several years to get ready for this - they darn well better be EXTREMELY prepared to keep an eagle eye on that blasting.

[Brian McCarthy]

The HD issue was the blasting agent they said they were using - well, not really sure of the real story but some sort of oil got into the local wells - and the blasting agent they were supposed to be using didn't have any of 'that stuff in it' - In any case HD did end up running temp lines to the few homes that were effected.

They have their requirements... and we (the Town) need to make sure they follow them.

[Jamie MacFarland]

I believe you are referring to ANFO. I believe ANFO will also be used at the Mall site, if I am not mistaken. The difference is at Home Depot, there were private wells nearby, much like the problem that happened in Windham. In both cases, I believe Nitrates got in the wells nearby, which made the drinking water unsafe. In the case of the mall site most of the homes and businesses nearby are on the public water system. I am sure the monitoring will be significantly greater than at the Home Depot site where there were private wells. I would like know the plans for oversight. I am not sure that has been firmed up yet. I am sure the Fire Department will be closely monitoring the activities.

[Brian McCarthy]

Nitrates - ya that was it.

[mmoy]

Deadbeat Mall Operators?

Like homeowners walking away from mortgaged houses that plummeted in value, some of the largest commercial-property owners are defaulting on debts and surrendering buildings worth less than their loans.

Companies such as Macerich Co., Vornado Realty Trust and Simon Property Group Inc. have recently stopped making mortgage payments to put pressure on lenders to restructure debts. In many cases they have walked away, sending keys to properties whose values had fallen far below the mortgage amounts, a process known as "jingle mail." These companies all have piles of cash to make the payments. They are simply opting to default because they believe it makes good business sense.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000142 ... Collection

[Jamie MacFarland]

If the values of Commercial Real Estate, like malls are falling so substantially, would this change the estimated valuations of the Outlet Center from what it was thought to be two or three years ago, which would mean less revenue for the town than previously thought? It may be the more distressed, older properties are losing the greatest value, and not the shiny new properties..

I see there is a proposal to eliminate the tolls at exit 11, and 12, since 10 would see some fresh new revenue going to the state, which could be several millions of dollars per year. I think its an creative request from Deb Pignatelli, but a bad idea. 10, and 11 are extremely close, and it is little trouble for visitors to go off exit 11 and avoid the tolls. This would create a real traffic headache at exit 11......I am already concerned that traffic engineers looking at the mall traffic missed the boat on their estimates of traffic at 11. Where are the outlet center visitors going to get gas? Will they go to the State Liquor Store and stock up before they return to Mass?. I see many more cars at exit 11.

With the outlet center in place, I can't see the state showing any interest in closing any of the tolls. I know the developer during the campaign was looking at working with the state to eliminate/reduce the tolls through a study. I never saw a copy of this study, or have heard anything on this since then.


http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/news/832 ... -more.html

[mmoy]

I think that the visitors from MA will just get off at exit 7 and drive on DWH to the mall. I have been doing this for over 20 years as part of my daily commute. DWH is a more relaxing drive in the morning for me than taking the Turnpike. I lose a few minutes but have the option of dropping into the YMCA before or after work.

Exit 11 would definitely be an issue for those coming from the North.

The unemployment rate in NH ticked down to 5.8% in July and it dropped to 9% in MA in July. SPG figures that the mall will bring in customers from Canada and Europe too. I think that they are correct in this.

My greater concern is the approach of reneging on agreements, even when they have the capacity to easily meet their obligations.

[RBarnes]

I think that the visitors from MA will just get off at exit 7 and drive on DWH to the mall. I have been doing this for over 20 years as part of my daily commute. DWH is a more relaxing drive in the morning for me than taking the Turnpike. I lose a few minutes but have the option of dropping into the YMCA before or after work.

Actually exit 8 is quicker. Turn next to the 99 and take a left at the first light. It will take you out just south of the Bud plant. Also avoids the tolls.

[tim dutton]

Take a left onto Manchester Street and cuts even more time.

Traffic patterns will be interesting and a mess!

[Concerned]

Isn't the exit neart the 99 actually exit 7? Coming north you get off at the exit, go straight across Amherst and then take a left at the first light off Henri Burque onto Manchester. It then dumps you onto the DW near where the Dawg Shack used to be.

[tim dutton]

Correct exit 7 is closer to Manchester Street.

Exit 8 bypasses some of Amherst Street and can dump onto the turnpike.