Providing accurate and timely information about what matters in Franklin, MA since 2007. * Working in collaboration with Franklin TV and Radio (wfpr.fm) since October 2019 *
Friday, August 3, 2018
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Four Corners remembered
Monday, August 3, 2009
Franklin: Walgreens Conveyor
I was caught by this arrangement of machines. The bucket loader (far right) drops a load of dirt into the first blue machine. This appears to filter the material and transfer it to another similar machine which may have a different filter setting to process before it drops it off the last conveyor in a pile to be used on the site.
How many men would have been required to provide the same filtering function in the days when the Four Corners Bldg went up (or earlier)?
Anyone know the answer?
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Four Corners destruction
I guess the Town didn't bother to remove their sign.
In the house next door to the property that is also coming down to make way for Walgreens, I hope the envelope in the mail box isn't important.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Four Corners building
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Hey you can see the house now that the trees are gone!
The construction at the Four Corners building is underway. Eventually, a Walgreens will operate from this location.
I'll try to report key milestones here from time to time as the work progresses.
Friday, June 5, 2009
Four Corners sale complete
The town sold the former Four Corners School to Arista Development LLC and got the check for $2.5 million Tuesday, said Town Administrator Jeffrey D. Nutting.
Norwood-based Arista is replacing the building at the intersection of Rte. 140 and King Street with a Walgreens pharmacy.
About $1 million of the money will be used to pay the existing debt on the property, which the town bought for $1.32 million, Nutting said.
Town Council voted Wednesday to put the $1 million in an escrow account for that purpose.
The remainder of the funds can be used for any bondable expense, or capital project, such as building repairs, but cannot legally be used for operational costs, such as salaries or schools, and cannot be put into free cash, Nutting said.
Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
"open the store in April 2010"
The Planning Board will hold the first public hearing Dec. 1 for Arista Development's request for a permit to build a Walgreens pharmacy at the former Four Corners School.
At the same time, Arista will also apply for a special permit from the Conservation Commission for a drive-through window, said Town Planner Beth Dahlstrom.
In mid-May, Town Council voted to sell the former school to Arista Development LLC of Norwood for $2.5 million. Arista plans to build a Walgreens there, at the intersection of King Street and Rte. 140.
Through Town Administrator Jeffery D. Nutting and Town Attorney Mark G. Cerel, the town recently entered into a purchase-and-sales agreement with Arista, said Richard R. Cornetta Jr., the attorney representing Arista.
Nutting has said he expects the sale to be finalized in the spring.
Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Q & A 4 - Other revenue sources? Closing Davis Thayer? Nutting, Ogden respond (audio)
Friday, May 23, 2008
"the remainder can be directed toward any number of capital items"
Town Council voted 8-1 Wednesday to sell the former Four Corners School to Walgreens for $2.5 million.
Councilor Robert Vallee abstained from the vote.
The vote authorizes Town Administrator Jeffery D. Nutting and Town Attorney Mark G. Cerel to enter into a purchase and sales agreement with Arista Development LLC of Norwood, which is proposing the Walgreens Pharmacy.
Arista, which has developed several Walgreens across the northeast, including one in Bellingham, was the only bidder for the town-owned property at the intersection of King Street and Rte. 140, Nutting has said.
Though the council has agreed to the sale, Arista must still obtain various permits from the Planning Board, Council Chairman Christopher Feeley said Wednesday.
"In the past, I have fought against selling" town-owned property, said Councilor Scott Mason, adding that he voted for it in this instance to help improve the town's finances.
"I don't think it's fair to keep asking people to dip into their pockets," he said, cautioning that people should be clear about how the $2.5 million can be used.
"(Some) residents have a misguided sense of what we can and cannot do with the money. It cannot go into the operating budget, it can't be used to hire teachers or new DPW workers," Mason said.
Read the full story in the Milford Daily News here
Monday, May 19, 2008
Sale proceeds cannot be used for operational purposes
Town Council is slated to vote on the prospective $2.5 million sale of the former Four Corners School to Walgreens on Wednesday.
Arista Development, LLC, of Norwood, which is proposing the Walgreens Pharmacy, was the only bidder for the town-owned property at the intersection of King Street and Rte. 140, said Town Administrator Jeffery D. Nutting.
Arista has developed several Walgreens across the northeast, including Bellingham, said Arista Principal Scott A. Weymouth, noting he also helped develop the CVS on East Central Street.
The $2.5 million bid was a good offer, Nutting said.
The town paid $1.325 million for the Four Corners property about a decade ago, he said.
Read the full story in the Milford Daily News here.
Listen to the proposal made at the Town Council meeting here and read my notes from that meeting recorded during the meeting here.
Friday, May 9, 2008
Four Corners Potential Sale to Walgreens (audio)
Time: 24 minutes, 10 seconds
MP3 File
My notes taken during the meeting can be found here.
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Four Corners Building
Richard Cornetta, attorney
Scott Weymouth, principle for Arista, LLC
Walgreen by this group is already in Bellingham at intersection of RT 126/140
provided a couple of plans to the council
site plan does include a couple of other private residences already under contract to Arista
envisions set back requirements due to proximity to residences, ready for planning board approval processes
14,500 sq
no more than 2 stories tall
60 parking spaces
single entrance, double exit from King St
single entrance, single exit on Cross St
does envision a drive-up for pharmacy, not like fast food drive-ups
extreme corner at King/140 would be green space
recognizes importance of location as approach to town
$2.5 million
approx 40K annual real-estate taxes, a number of jobs created
20 permanent positions once operational
construction positions created for the building
P/S by June 08, permits by Dec 08
projected closing date for Feb 09
shovels in the ground potential for Mar 09
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Feeley answers a question about has this already been sold?
No, it has not. This is a proposal.
The economic development group has approved this unanimously
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Pfeffer with proposal for moving one of the existing to another space within the town and have Habitant for Humanity work to bring in two units
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discussion on the willingness to work with the town
could consider moving the house, could consider renovating
one was planned to remove
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less than 25% mezzanine level on the second floor to move some of the operational space up there and leave the lower level for the retail space
would do a full traffic study, did a brief analysis to prepare the draft plans
their estimate of tax revenue is in the ball park per Jeff Nutting
construction if started in Mar could be done by October to be open in time for the holidays
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McGann question on the restrictions with the 24 hour drive through and neighbors comments
was written into the RFP specifying the restriction
how does it effect the developer?
there is an impact, a competitive disadvantage
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Vallee complaining again about restrictions
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did design to meet the requirements
minimum should be 59 parking spots
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will be on agenda two weeks from tonight for a vote
Town Council Meeting Summary 5/7/08
This is the summary of the live blogging posts and the audio recordings for the Town Council meeting held on May 7, 2008. The posts are listed in reverse chronological order.
- Feeley responds to McGann (audio)
- New Committee to develop 5 Yr Projections (audio)
- DPW Open House 5/31/08 (audio)
- Water/Sewer Rate Changes (audio)
- Town Common sign placement (audio)
- Other action items (audio)
- Ladder Truck paydown plan (audio)
- 4th of July (audio)
- Four Corners Potential Sale to Walgreens (audio)
- Councilor McGann during Citizens Comment (audio)
- 5 Year Plan committee to be formed (text)
- Town Administrator Report (text)
- Water conservation starting (text)
- Action items (text)
- Four Corners Building (text)
- Election Info - McGann uses Citizens Comment (text)
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Finance Committee Meeting Summary 5/6/08
Nutting updates the Facilities Issue (audio)
Override Information (audio)
Possible 4 Corners Bldg/Land Sale (audio)
Budget adjustments for snow/ice (audio)
New Ladder Truck arrives next week (audio)
Override Election Budget Approved (audio)
4 Corners Bldg for $2.5M (text)
Possible 4 Corners Bldg/Land Sale
Time: 4 minutes, 32 seconds
MP3 File
Note: Capital revenues of this sort can not be used for operational expenses.
4 Corners Bldg for $2.5M
Per Jeff Nutting at the FINCOM meeting Tuesday evening, the Town Council will be considering a proposal to sell the Four Corners Building to WalGreen for an estimated $2.5 million.
The agenda item is for discussion only. If it does gain interest, it would comeback for a formal vote at the Town Council.
- The money after paying off the approx. $1.1M debt can only be used for a similar type capital asset.
- It can not be used for operational expenses.
- It could be used for paying down other building debt.