Transformation
Another Broadway property, this one shown above, across from the Central Fire Station and abutting Fred Capone’s well kept Victorian to the right, has undergone a rather major transformation in recent months.
Make no mistake, the corner is now very crowded with this new construction. However, the new construction is crisp and clean and the building itself will be environmentally correct with new windows and proper insulation.
Three new apartments are being offered – and will shortly be taken – we are certain.
Unique about this development is that it is built on the original footprint of the Victorian home that stood there for about 90 years.
The entire new structure is built using some of the best elements of the structural components of the old structure.
Another $1 million sale
Last week Banker and Tradesmen listed another Everett property that sold for over $1 million dollars.
149 Chelsea Street sold for $1,025,000.
Twenty years ago, that property would have sold for somewhere around $350,000 – $400,000.
What does that tell you?
That Everett real estate is valuable and going higher by the month.
The crazed days of a dozen buyers showing up for the same property, and all of them offering more than the asking price, are over.
But the higher prices are not.
Nepal Day
The city has noted and celebrated yet another special day honoring one of the city’s many minority groups making a go at American life here.
The new day is called, Nepal Day.
It is a day meant to honor those Everett residents who grew up in Nepal.
The occasion was celebrated Sunday, August 6 at Glendale Park and attracted a small crowd of people – many of them Everett residents who grew up in Nepal. Oddly enough, families from Nepal have moved into Greater Boston during the past five years.
Kathmandu is the capital of this nation nestled in the world’s tallest mountain range.
Kisan Upadhaya grew up in Nepal. Now he lives in Everett and has for a while.
He is running for an at-large council seat in the upcoming election.
Like most of the Nepalese people we tend to meet (and there is a great Nepalese restaurant in Winthrop), Upadhaya speaks perfect English, runs a small business and is concerned about the community he now calls home.
City streets blocked
If you visit here, work here or live here and drive an automobile, then you know.
Traversing this city on any given day is a succession of detours, traffic stops lined with special details and construction equipment crowding streets that are all in a varying state of construction or deconstruction.
Many choose to complain about this.
Many don’t care. Others understand. Understand what?
That the city’s infrastructure is undergoing a once in a lifetime redoing below the streets.
It is likely that what is being done now will last for another 40-50 years before the streets must be dug up again.
For the city to move into the future, these infrastructure replacements and improvements are an absolute necessity.
It is hard to appreciate that all this inconvenience is for the betterment of the city…but it is.
The Inspector General
Several people made inquiries to the Leader Herald last week asking if we had heard about the Inspector General’s investigation into whether or not the longevity payments made to the mayor in the past were legal.
They also asked if we knew (how could we possibly know) if the Inspector General had made a ruling or was about to make a ruling.
In answer to those questions we answered those who asked, “No. We know nothing about this.”
Being curious, I called the Inspector General’s office Monday. I had called the week before but no one replied.
I spoke with the chief media officer, who revealed absolutely nothing about any question that I asked.
Inspector General business is totally, 100% private.
Everything that is done there is governed by Massachusetts General Law 12A.
What does this mean?
That the public sees nothing the Inspector General does and is not notified at all about whatever it is doing.
The Inspector General can summons witnesses to be questioned but is governed by the same rules governing grand juries – that is – everything is private and out of the public eye, and for no one to know.
It is known that Council Chairman Mike Marchese has several times asked City Clerk Sergio Cornelio to write to the Inspector General’s office to find out where the longevity investigation is at.
Cornelio has apparently done this as required of him by the council.
However, it would seem likely he has received no response for his efforts or a response reminding him of Chapter 12 A and how everything about the Inspector General’s office operates in a shroud of absolute secrecy.
Bottom line, those who claim the Inspector General has ruled that the mayor must pay back the $180,000 or so in longevity payments he received do not know what they are talking about.
What is going on with the Inspector General and the question of the mayor’s longevity payments and whether or not they were deserved or should be paid back?
No one knows. Anyone claiming to know is lying.
How will we ultimately know that the Inspector General has issued a ruling?
It will be listed on the Inspector General website.
Before that is done, there is no legal way to find out what, if anything, the Inspector General is doing.