Every now and then an indignant statement is made about how much the landlocked land cost the town and how foolish the town was in taking the property.
Since I was the primary proponent of the taking I would respond now the same way I have over the past 20 years by saying that the taking made sense then and it still makes sense now and given the same set of circumstances I believe the town and its voters would do the same thing today.
Let’s compare the land locked issue to two more popular items which I contend cost the town much more money than the land locked land and in comparison, the land is not an expense but rather an investment.
The Lahey Clinic expansion is far more costly to the town now and going forward than the landlocked land will ever be. By granting an expansion without getting a permanent and enforceable in lieu of tax agreement, the town committed financial incompetence. Not only did the town lose an opportunity for increased annual payments but they also failed to get any infrastructure improvements such as contributions to the forced sewer main, reconstruction of Mall Road or new water improvements (stand pipe). Additionally, the town received no contributions for these three items from Nordblom, Guitterez, Seven Springs or the Commons. Cost of these items will be between 10 and 20 million dollars.
The land swap is another example of questionable financial return. We gave away 14 acres of prime industrial space on Wheeler Road and in return we acquired a few residential parcels and a prime piece of property next to the Center School that we then virtually gave away for 300k to a developer. What we were left with is a termite ridden building falling apart before our very eyes with an estimated refurbishing cost of over 3 million dollars. The town is now paralyzed over what to do with the building.
Was the landlocked land a better deal? Well yes, primarily because we still own it and its current value is in excess of 50 million dollars. Its location is incomparable in the commonwealth, being situated at the junction of Route 95 and Route 3. What good is its value if we can‘t use it you ask? The answer of course is that it can be used when and if the town and state decides what it could be used for. The golf course proposal was defeated but there are other considerations.
Two potential uses right now that are at both ends of the spectrum are as follows.
1. Wind farm. A utility easement already exists into the property which makes access quite easy. It would be relatively simple process to strike a deal with NStar to place windmills on the property. The front part of the property which is at the junction of 95 and route 3 would be a perfect spot.
2. The other end of the spectrum could include a full build out for a casino and all the appurtenant structures necessary to support it. Would access by the state be granted for such a use? The casino scenario is unfolding at the state house right now. If you have been watching this issue then you know that location wise Burlington could offer the best and most accessible location in the state. If Middleboro could strike an enormous deal why couldn't Burlington?
Is that a likely possibility? I hope not.
Of course another potential use is to do nothing. Over the period of time since its acquisition the town has received and spent some where in the order of 1.3 billion dollars. The cost of the land is a very tiny fraction of those moneys.My basic point is that the taking of the landlocked land was a strategic priority at the time. The land was producing virtually no tax revenue (35k) and the land had long been a target of speculators and swindlers.
Even now, after all these years some of the pro tanto payments remain unclaimed because the owners of some of the 34 parcels were never known or found. The property had been the target of swindlers who would frequently come to the tax office to try to pay back taxes on certain parcels that had murky titles. They hoped by paying the taxes they could lay some foundation of claim of ownership of the properties.
Time will certainly tell the whole story regarding the wisdom of the land locked taking. What we do know for sure right now is this, the title is unified now under one owner and that owner is the Town of Burlington. The property itself is a pristine parcel which represents almost 5% of the town’s total land mass. At the very least it is a legacy that will be left to future inhabitants of Burlington.
