"Marini must refile his application"

By Joyce Kelly/Daily News staff

Milford Daily News

Posted May 18, 2009 @ 10:42 PM

---

FRANKLIN —

Developer John Marini withdrew his application for a site plan modification at the request of town officials who said he failed to mention in the document that he added a few partners since his initial request.

The Planning Board last night unanimously voted to accept the withdrawal without prejudice, which means it can be brought up again.

The application was to make improvements to the interior and exterior of the last of his old buildings so that it is presentable while the town waits another three years for Marini to demolish and rebuild 12-26 East Central St.

Marini had asked to delay the project because he was not able to secure financing during the recession.

Read the latest on the Center Commons development downtown in the Milford Daily News here

"You just gotta believe it's going to happen"

By Joyce Kelly/Daily News staff

GHS

Posted Mar 11, 2009 @ 01:18 AM

---

FRANKLIN —

Despite some rocky relations in the past, the general sentiment among downtown businesses and town officials is one of sympathy for developer John Marini, whose plans were halted by the recession.

On Monday night, Marini told the Planning Board he has not been able to sell any of his 27 upscale condos in the 2 1/2 months they've been on the market, and cannot secure financing to demolish and rebuild 12-28 East Central St., as originally planned.

Instead, he will put $100,000 worth of repairs into the property and lease the first floor spaces for a three-year period.

"I promise to make it look presentable," he told the board.

This article follows up on the presentation to the Planning Board Monday night revealing a revised schedule for completion of the Center Commons project. Marini will be back to the Planning Board in April to file the formal paperwork. You can read the full article in the Milford Daily News here

"optimistic the economy will rebound in three years"

By Joyce Kelly/Daily News staff

GHS

Posted Mar 09, 2009 @ 11:54 PM

---

FRANKLIN —

Developer John Marini will not be completing the final leg of his downtown project for at least three years because banks are refusing to finance the work, he told the Planning Board last night.

Instead of his original plan to demolish, rebuild, and sell 12-28 West Central St. this year, Marini said he will put $100,000 worth of repairs into the building and lease the spaces for a three-year period.

Marini blames his difficulties on the recession.

"I've been in this business 40 years, and I've never had things happen this way. It's impossible to get financing, it's impossible to get tenants, it's impossible to sell. It's just a crazy situation," Marini said.

Read the full article on the trouble delaying the downtown development in the Milford Daily News here.

Open House Saturdays and Sundays, 11AM – 3PM

For the Franklin Center Commons:

This condominium building consists of 27 single-level-living condominiums with wonderful amenities. Newly revitalized location offers walk to train, banks, post office, restaurants, shops, and only 45 minutes to Boston. Perfect for commuter, first time home buyers or downsizers. Franklin has just recently added the New GATRA bus service for easy access to shopping, senior center, etc.

If you can't make it to the open house, click through to the web site to take a virtual tour of their model.

in the News - Center Commons, Sgt Pirelli

Franklin Center Commons moves forward

By Joyce Kelly/Daily News staff

Developer John Marini isn't letting today's economy drag down his part of Franklin's $28 million downtown revitalization project. "He's got a large amount of his own personal money involved in this," said Eileen Mason, a sales agent with Costello Realty representing the Marini property. When Marini finished constructing the first of four buildings at 9 Summer St., last May, financial advisers, consultants, and a pain management company, among others, moved quickly to rent the professional offices on the second and third floors. Mason said retailers like Pretty is Pink and ARTBEAT moved in at the street level. "It did not take long to fill out that professional office space," Mason said, noting the dual draw of the commuter rail and the high traffic. Every day, 22,000 cars travel downtown, she said.

----------------

Pirelli scholarship fundraiser to be held in September

By Joyce Kelly/Daily News staff

Just like his "old man," Staff Sgt. Robert Ryan Pirelli loved kids, recalled his father, Robert Pirelli, a long-time TV announcer for Franklin Youth Hockey, coach and ice cream man. While serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom, Pirelli played football and baseball with Iraqi kids, Robert Pirelli said, remembering with amusement how his son gave the children baseball mitts, but they didn't understand they were for catching the ball. "He threw the ball to one kid, and the kid didn't use the glove, it just hit his chest," he said, so Pirelli taught them all what the glove was for and other baseball basics. "He just loved working with kids over there. He saw the appreciation they had," Pirelli said. One child's mother made a bracelet and sent it to Rob's sister, Stacey, to thank him, his father said.

----------------

Father reflects on fallen Green Beret

By Joyce Kelly/Daily News staff

For Robert Pirelli, the memories come one after the other, as time seems to collapse into vignettes of the moments he shared with his son, Staff Sgt. Robert Ryan Pirelli. Rob's post office tree-house he ran with his brother, Shawn, and sister, "Postmaster Stacey," inspired by their father, a postal worker. Rob on the ice, "accidentally" blasting a puck at the glass protecting the Franklin Youth Hockey commentator - his dad. One of the first father and son bonding moments: little Rob walking out of the house, looking at his dad's ice cream truck and back at his dad, realizing, "My dad's the ice cream man!" Robert Pirelli remembers, breaking into a smile.

Center Commons makes progress

In case you haven't peaked through to see what is going on with the Center Commons development behind E Central St, these pix from Saturday shows significant progress from last time I peaked.

Franklin Center Commons: roof's on

Franklin Center Commons: roof's on, originally uploaded by shersteve.

I did not get around to posting this picture from our walk Saturday morning but the roof is now on the condominium building located down behind the store fronts along Main St.

Franklin Center - opening September 2008

Franklin Center - opening September 2008, originally uploaded by shersteve.

"Single level living"

Seems to me to mean that each condo will be located within one floor as the building will be three stories tall (at least that is what it appears to be now).

That is a good advantage for a condo compared to other layouts where you have your space spread amongst a smaller foot print and you use multiple floors for your living space.

Way to go!

Franklin Center grows

Franklin Center grows, originally uploaded by shersteve.

Almost missed this as it is tucked away behind the completed buildings along Main St. They have moved aggressively and have a second floor almost complete with a third floor coming.

Way to go!

Franklin Center Commons - east bound view

Franklin Center Commons - east bound view, originally uploaded by shersteve.

I don't know. I think the building looks like dirty snow.

How will it look in summer?

What do you think?

Franklin Center Commons - west bound view

Franklin Center Commons - west bound view, originally uploaded by shersteve.

Franklin Center Commons

Franklin Center Commons, originally uploaded by shersteve.

on a dreary slushy day, a photo from the sunshine on Saturday.

This is a good idea to let folks know how much is open and operating in the new building for those heading West on 140 coming into Franklin.

The way the sign is angled it does not help those heading East.