Showing posts with label real estate. Show all posts
Showing posts with label real estate. Show all posts
April 10, 2013
Effort to block Boulevard School sale
April 20, 2011
City seeking to sell Fall Mountain Road house
“The main intent of the Real Estate Committee is to get property back on the tax rolls, into the hands of private interests where it properly belongs”, said Councilman Kevin McCauley, chairman of the Real Estate Committee.
For further information, contact the City’s Purchasing Agent, Roger Rousseau, at (860) 584-6195, or by visiting the City’s website at http://www.bristolct.gov.
November 13, 2009
City rescinds sale of Broad Street house
City councilors recently rescinded a real estate deal approved last month to sell a decrepit house at 406 Broad St. for $55,200.
The city acquired the house in June when its former owner fell way behind on taxes. It put the house on the market a month later.
Councilors agreed in October to sell it to Michael Baillargeon on the condition that he keep it as a single-family house. Officials said he planned to restore it.
But city Councilor Kevin McCauley, who heads the Real Estate Committee, said a zoning issue arose that complicated the deal.
Mayor Art Ward said there was a misunderstanding with Baillargeon about the caveat which the city put on the sale.
The real estate panel plans to review the terms again. The city still intends to sell the property.
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Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
The city acquired the house in June when its former owner fell way behind on taxes. It put the house on the market a month later.
Councilors agreed in October to sell it to Michael Baillargeon on the condition that he keep it as a single-family house. Officials said he planned to restore it.
But city Councilor Kevin McCauley, who heads the Real Estate Committee, said a zoning issue arose that complicated the deal.
Mayor Art Ward said there was a misunderstanding with Baillargeon about the caveat which the city put on the sale.
The real estate panel plans to review the terms again. The city still intends to sell the property.
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Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
October 13, 2009
City selling more property, but not without dissent
The city sold $85,200 worth of surplus property Tuesday that will help fill dwindling municipal coffers during a tight budget year.
Councilors also agreed to sell a handful of other parcels, including one by Stafford School that city planners urged officials to keep.
City Councilor Frank Nicastro, who heads the city’s Real Estate Committee, said the city has managed to sell $800,000 worth of property in the last couple of years.
That money, he said, has helped hold down taxes while also increasing the Grand List by adding more taxable land and buildings to the rolls.
The biggest sale was a decrepit house at 406 Broad St. that the city acquired in June when its former owner fell way behind on taxes.
Councilors agreed to sell it to Michael Baillargeon for $55,200 on the condition that he keep it as a single-family house. Officials said he plans to restore it.
The only other bidder offered $30,000, Nicastro said.
The city also sold Lot 199 on Main Street, near the High Street library, for $30,000 to Joseph Geladino, a former Republican candidate for public office.
“This was the best offer we had,” Nicastro said.
What proved most controversial, though, wasn’t the sale of the two parcels.
It was instead whether to overrule the Planning Commission’s recommendation to hang on to a building lot on the east side of Morris Avenue.
Nicastro and other councilors said they are confident the city can sell it to someone who would build a house on it.
But planners said the city ought to keep it as a pathway from Morris Avenue to Stafford School, a route that children used in the past with some frequency.
As recently as 18 months ago, the Board of Education urged the city to keep it.
But this summer, educators said they didn’t care if it was sold because children don’t use it anymore and the addition of two new schools makes it exceedingly unlikely that Stafford School will ever be expanded.
Planners said, though, that the city ought to keep it anyway because conditions could someday change.
City Councilor Craig Minor said he thought selling it would be fine. But, he said, he was “really troubled” at the notion of overruling the planning board.
In the end, he voted to keep the land, a decision that city Councilor Mike Rimcoski also favored. Rimcoski said he hated going against the planners.
But on a 5-2 vote that saw the rest of the council reject the planning recommendation – more than the two-thirds required to overrule the panel – councilors agreed to try to sell the lot.
“Let’s get the money,” said city Councilor Ken Cockayne.
Mayor Art Ward said that officials have been eyeing the lot for possible sale for at least four years and because there is “no future use anticipated” it made no sense to keep it.
“It’s time to let the property go,” said city Councilor Cliff Block.
The city also intends to try to sell property on Belmont Street, Kilmartin Avenue, and Brewster and Town Line roads.
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Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
September 9, 2009
Council rejects real estate deals
City councilors gunned down proposals Tuesday to buy a house on Dutton Avenue and buildings behind City Hall owned by the Lepore family
But it remains possible the city will reconsider the purchase of the 15 Dutton Ave. house owned by the Bevivino family, though probably not for the $218,000 price set by a judge early in 2008.
Councilors said they would not have considered the purchase had they known of an appraisal that set the house’s value $43,000 below the judicial decree’s figure, a document disclosed recently by The Bristol Press.
“We’re not going to pay $218,000,” city Councilor Cliff Block said, since the appraisal set the value at $175,000.
Councilors sent the Dutton Avenue issue back to committee to figure out what, if anything, the city should do next.
The proposed purchase of the Lepore property, which councilors backed several years ago, was unanimously rejected this time.
“We are not interested in purchasing it,” said city Councilor Frank Nicastro, who heads the Real Estate Committee.
Independent mayoral candidate Gary Lawton was among those urging the city to keep its hands off the Dutton Avenue property, which is embroiled in a family dispute.
“Why are we getting in the middle of a family squabble?” Lawton asked. “We really need to let that house alone.”
Michael Dudko, a member of the Bugryn family who fought unsuccessfully to prevent the city from seizing land for an industrial park, said the city “does take advantage of family situations” to get property it desires.
He said the house on Dutton Avenue is “not important” for neighboring Rockwell Park and should be allowed to remain in private hands.
City Councilor Ken Cockayne said the city “can’t afford” to pursue the house until better times. He was the only councilor to vote to kill the proposal outright. The rest agreed to send it back to the three-person real estate panel.
Nicastro said councilors have tried hard to avoid becoming embroiled in the family’s disagreement that was spurred by the desire of one of four siblings to buy the house. She offered $175,000 to her brothers and sisters last week, but it was apparently rejected.
Jan Bevivino, who wants to buy the house, urged the city to abandon any thought of buying the place.
“Why don’t you just back out now?” she yelled from the audience as councilors discussed the issue.
Nicastro expressed disappointment that the rest of her family or their attorney were not present to join the debate.
He said it would be fine with him if the family opted to sell the house to Jan Bevivino.
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Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
But it remains possible the city will reconsider the purchase of the 15 Dutton Ave. house owned by the Bevivino family, though probably not for the $218,000 price set by a judge early in 2008.
Councilors said they would not have considered the purchase had they known of an appraisal that set the house’s value $43,000 below the judicial decree’s figure, a document disclosed recently by The Bristol Press.
“We’re not going to pay $218,000,” city Councilor Cliff Block said, since the appraisal set the value at $175,000.
Councilors sent the Dutton Avenue issue back to committee to figure out what, if anything, the city should do next.
The proposed purchase of the Lepore property, which councilors backed several years ago, was unanimously rejected this time.
“We are not interested in purchasing it,” said city Councilor Frank Nicastro, who heads the Real Estate Committee.
Independent mayoral candidate Gary Lawton was among those urging the city to keep its hands off the Dutton Avenue property, which is embroiled in a family dispute.
“Why are we getting in the middle of a family squabble?” Lawton asked. “We really need to let that house alone.”
Michael Dudko, a member of the Bugryn family who fought unsuccessfully to prevent the city from seizing land for an industrial park, said the city “does take advantage of family situations” to get property it desires.
He said the house on Dutton Avenue is “not important” for neighboring Rockwell Park and should be allowed to remain in private hands.
City Councilor Ken Cockayne said the city “can’t afford” to pursue the house until better times. He was the only councilor to vote to kill the proposal outright. The rest agreed to send it back to the three-person real estate panel.
Nicastro said councilors have tried hard to avoid becoming embroiled in the family’s disagreement that was spurred by the desire of one of four siblings to buy the house. She offered $175,000 to her brothers and sisters last week, but it was apparently rejected.
Jan Bevivino, who wants to buy the house, urged the city to abandon any thought of buying the place.
“Why don’t you just back out now?” she yelled from the audience as councilors discussed the issue.
Nicastro expressed disappointment that the rest of her family or their attorney were not present to join the debate.
He said it would be fine with him if the family opted to sell the house to Jan Bevivino.
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Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
September 2, 2009
Alford calls for city to back off on house deal
The city should abandon plans to buy a
“This purchase is suspect in good economic times,” Alford said.
“However, in today’s economy, the taxpayers of Bristol can no longer afford the pipe dreams of our local elected officials,” she said.
City leaders plan to consider the purchase of the
Mayor Art Ward said the city hasn’t made a decision to buy the property. The purchase is “not cast in stone” and will be looked at carefully.
Ward said he trusts the three-person Real Estate Committee, headed by veteran Democratic city Councilor Frank Nicastro, to recommend the right course for the city.
Though Alford said the city should “rescind its offer to purchase” the house, Ward said the city hasn’t made an offer. It is merely considering the possibility, he said.
‘There’s never been a vote to buy it,” Nicastro said.
The issue grew more complicated with the recent revelation that an appraiser this year pegged the property’s value at $175,000, some 20 percent less than the price a judge told the Bevivino family to sell it to the city for.
“Would you pay $43,000 more for a piece of property that your ultimate goal was to tear down in the end?” Alford said.
Ward said that city officials are reviewing the price and the judicial order.
Nicastro said the new appraisal was never brought to his committee’s attention. He said the family needs to work out what it wants to do next.
Nicastro said his committee has, with full support from Republican city Councilor Mike Rimcoski, pursued the property because it’s needed for a long-term effort to beautify the historic
“This has been in the planning stage for years,” Nicastro said.
Alford said that in general, the city “should not be in the real estate business.”
She said the city needs to sell property it owns that’s not in use in order to replenish the rainy day fund “and put these properties back on the tax rolls where they belong.”
Nicastro said that Alford “doesn’t pay much attention to what we’ve done” in recent years.
He said the city has sold more than $700,000 in surplus property in the past two years and is having a hard time finding anything else it can sell.
“We’re running out of surplus property because we’ve sold so much of it,” Nicastro said, adding that Rimcoski has been a strong supporter of the effort.
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Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
August 27, 2009
City to pay too much for Dutton Avenue house?
The price tag for a Dutton Avenue house that city councilors aim to buy next month may be more than $40,000 too high, according to an appraisal done this year.
The city’s Real Estate Committee, which has been eyeing the property for almost two years, recently recommended the city buy the 15 Dutton Ave. house for $218,000, a price set by a state judge in 2007.
But the house is only worth $175,000, according to a March 17 appraisal prepared for Campbell Mortgage of West Haven by Louis Buccini of East Haven’s Style Appraisal Services.
City Councilor Frank Nicastro, who heads the real estate panel, said the new information will have to be considered. He said the attorney who represents most of the family selling the house needs to talk to his clients.
Mayor Art Ward said the “new knowledge” provided by the appraisal makes sense given that home values have generally declined over the past couple of years.
He said he “would have to conceive” the council wouldn’t pay $43,000 extra for the property unless there was something wrong with the appraisal.
“I see some problems,” said city Councilor Mike Rimcoski. But, he said, he want to talk to city lawyers before taking a stand.
Salvatore Vitrano, who represents three of four Bevivino siblings who own the house, could not be reached Thursday.
The other sibling, Jan Bevivino, secured a mortgage offer based on the new appraisal. She said she would like to buy the house if her siblings acknowledge the city won’t pay the original asking price.
According to the judge’s order that all four Bevivinos agreed with in 2008, the city gets first crack at purchasing the house for $218,000. If it turns down the deal, the house is to be sold like any other real estate.
Ward said the city has good reason to buy the property even in the midst of hard economic times because it is crucial to Rockwell Park.
The city has spent $7 million overhauling the historic park and would like to get the house and an old gasoline station beside it on Park Street “to complete that entire section,” the mayor said.
The council meeting is slated for September 8.
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Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
The city’s Real Estate Committee, which has been eyeing the property for almost two years, recently recommended the city buy the 15 Dutton Ave. house for $218,000, a price set by a state judge in 2007.
But the house is only worth $175,000, according to a March 17 appraisal prepared for Campbell Mortgage of West Haven by Louis Buccini of East Haven’s Style Appraisal Services.
City Councilor Frank Nicastro, who heads the real estate panel, said the new information will have to be considered. He said the attorney who represents most of the family selling the house needs to talk to his clients.
Mayor Art Ward said the “new knowledge” provided by the appraisal makes sense given that home values have generally declined over the past couple of years.
He said he “would have to conceive” the council wouldn’t pay $43,000 extra for the property unless there was something wrong with the appraisal.
“I see some problems,” said city Councilor Mike Rimcoski. But, he said, he want to talk to city lawyers before taking a stand.
Salvatore Vitrano, who represents three of four Bevivino siblings who own the house, could not be reached Thursday.
The other sibling, Jan Bevivino, secured a mortgage offer based on the new appraisal. She said she would like to buy the house if her siblings acknowledge the city won’t pay the original asking price.
According to the judge’s order that all four Bevivinos agreed with in 2008, the city gets first crack at purchasing the house for $218,000. If it turns down the deal, the house is to be sold like any other real estate.
Ward said the city has good reason to buy the property even in the midst of hard economic times because it is crucial to Rockwell Park.
The city has spent $7 million overhauling the historic park and would like to get the house and an old gasoline station beside it on Park Street “to complete that entire section,” the mayor said.
The council meeting is slated for September 8.
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Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
August 20, 2009
Stimulus cash may pay for ex-gas station cleanup
A former gas station at the entrance to Rockwell Park may get a $150,000 environmental cleanup with money allocated by the federal government to stimulate the economy.
The 316 Park St. property needs the costly cleanup to remove wastes that have leaked from underground fuel tanks in years past.
The Valley Council of Governments’ regional brownfields partnership has already helped the city pay for studies to find out what needs to be done to clean up the privately owned site. It is now considering a final allocation to carry out the work, city officials said.
“That’s really good news,” said Edward Krawiecki, Jr, an assistant city attorney.
The city has long eyed the property for inclusion in neighboring Rockwell Park. It’s an eyesore that detracts badly from the newly overhauled entrance to the historic park, officials said.
But efforts to purchase the site have fallen short because the city has repeatedly said it won’t take ownership of the property until it is cleaned up.
The regional brownfields program recently got $1 million in stimulus funds to begin tackling projects on its 26-town list.
Krawiecki said Bristol has a good shot at the money because it has already invested $7 million or more to overhaul Rockwell Park and has been working on the gas station issue for years.
The city has a letter of intent from the property owners to sell the site with any costs absorbed by city taxpayers taken off the selling price.
The property is owned by Vincent Nemeragut of Easton. Its appraised value is $215,200, which doesn’t take into account the necessity of an environmental remediation.
He bought the 1960 gas station a decade ago for $110,000. It closed about five years ago.
The city is spending millions to spruce up Rockwell Park in a bid to pump life back into the West End park that used to serve thousands of working class families. It had fallen into disrepair and was little used until recently, when improvements to its playground and a new skatepark began drawing crowds again.
By purchasing the gas station and a house at 15 Dutton Ave., the city aims to open up the entrance to the park more, to make it more visible and attractive from Park Street.
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Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
The 316 Park St. property needs the costly cleanup to remove wastes that have leaked from underground fuel tanks in years past.
The Valley Council of Governments’ regional brownfields partnership has already helped the city pay for studies to find out what needs to be done to clean up the privately owned site. It is now considering a final allocation to carry out the work, city officials said.
“That’s really good news,” said Edward Krawiecki, Jr, an assistant city attorney.
The city has long eyed the property for inclusion in neighboring Rockwell Park. It’s an eyesore that detracts badly from the newly overhauled entrance to the historic park, officials said.
But efforts to purchase the site have fallen short because the city has repeatedly said it won’t take ownership of the property until it is cleaned up.
The regional brownfields program recently got $1 million in stimulus funds to begin tackling projects on its 26-town list.
Krawiecki said Bristol has a good shot at the money because it has already invested $7 million or more to overhaul Rockwell Park and has been working on the gas station issue for years.
The city has a letter of intent from the property owners to sell the site with any costs absorbed by city taxpayers taken off the selling price.
The property is owned by Vincent Nemeragut of Easton. Its appraised value is $215,200, which doesn’t take into account the necessity of an environmental remediation.
He bought the 1960 gas station a decade ago for $110,000. It closed about five years ago.
The city is spending millions to spruce up Rockwell Park in a bid to pump life back into the West End park that used to serve thousands of working class families. It had fallen into disrepair and was little used until recently, when improvements to its playground and a new skatepark began drawing crowds again.
By purchasing the gas station and a house at 15 Dutton Ave., the city aims to open up the entrance to the park more, to make it more visible and attractive from Park Street.
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Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
City may yet buy the Lepore property on Meadow Street
The city is once again considering whether to buy Meadow Street property behind City Hall that could be used for parking or future expansion.
Though it appears unlikely the city will agree to purchase the property from the Lepore property, the Real Estate Committee recently urged councilors to consider it.
“I still oppose it, but this is a democracy,” said city Councilor Frank Nicastro, who heads the real estate panel.
The Lepore family asked the city to reconsider its opposition to the purchase and Nicastro’s committee agreed to let the council debate the issue.
City councilors agreed in 2004 to pay $309,900 for the 73-75 Meadow St. property, which could provide room for about 23 parking spaces behind City Hall.
But the Board of Finance gunned down the plan when it learned the city would have spend another $150,000 or more to demolish the buildings and construct the lot.
Twice since then, the council has taken up the proposal again, each time rejecting the proposed purchase, the last time on a unanimous 2007 vote.
However, before turning it aside, the council had another vote in which it asked then-Mayor William Stortz to try to negotiate a better deal with the Lepores. Backers said the city may need the property someday.
They argued the city is short of parking,, storage and office space for its workforce.
Nicastro said that the possible closure of the courthouse, located above the police department next door to City Hall, would free up a lot of space the city could use more easily.
Nicastro, who also serves as a state representative, said he hopes to keep the courthouse open as part of the next state budget, but acknowledged the effort could fall short.
The council will likely take up the issue at its September 8 meeting.
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Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
Though it appears unlikely the city will agree to purchase the property from the Lepore property, the Real Estate Committee recently urged councilors to consider it.
“I still oppose it, but this is a democracy,” said city Councilor Frank Nicastro, who heads the real estate panel.
The Lepore family asked the city to reconsider its opposition to the purchase and Nicastro’s committee agreed to let the council debate the issue.
City councilors agreed in 2004 to pay $309,900 for the 73-75 Meadow St. property, which could provide room for about 23 parking spaces behind City Hall.
But the Board of Finance gunned down the plan when it learned the city would have spend another $150,000 or more to demolish the buildings and construct the lot.
Twice since then, the council has taken up the proposal again, each time rejecting the proposed purchase, the last time on a unanimous 2007 vote.
However, before turning it aside, the council had another vote in which it asked then-Mayor William Stortz to try to negotiate a better deal with the Lepores. Backers said the city may need the property someday.
They argued the city is short of parking,, storage and office space for its workforce.
Nicastro said that the possible closure of the courthouse, located above the police department next door to City Hall, would free up a lot of space the city could use more easily.
Nicastro, who also serves as a state representative, said he hopes to keep the courthouse open as part of the next state budget, but acknowledged the effort could fall short.
The council will likely take up the issue at its September 8 meeting.
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Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
August 19, 2009
City making money on cattle
A small herd of cattle that’s been grazing on Chippens Hill for years likely won’t need to mooooove on anytime soon.
For the first time in many years, the city is preparing to sign a deal that would let cattle graze on municipal land.
About two dozen head of cattle have been chewing through the field at 256 Matthews St. for a long while, officials said, and their owners would like to let them stay there.
But the property recently changed hands when the city purchased it this summer as part of the site of the proposed kindergarten to eighth grade school for West Bristol.
For the cattle to stay, the city has to offer the farmers, Doug Weigert and Robert Avolt, a license to use the land.
The farmers have been paying $350 in annual rent to cover the cost of the property taxes on the land, according to city officials.
The city’s Real Estate Committee agreed to urge city councilors to back a deal that would let the animals stay at the same price but on a month-to-month agreement so the city could tell them to take a hoof when construction nears.
City Councilor Frank Nicastro, who heads the panel, said he has no problem letting the cattle stay as long as the farmers have sufficient insurance.
Edward Krawiecki, Jr, an assistant city attorney, said they’ve already shown the insurance paperwork so he anticipates no problems.
The farmers could not be reached for comment.
The city plans to construct one of two planned 900-student schools on the Matthews Street site by 2015 – and perhaps sooner – as part of a $130 million project that would close four older schools and shift half the K-8 students in town to new buildings.
The other school site is next door to the existing Greene-Hills School on Pine Street.
The new buildings would replace Memorial Boulevard Middle School and three aging primary schools O’Connell, Greene-Hills and Bingham.
The project is slated to begin in earnest only in 2013, but there has been talk of pushing the timetable up.
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Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
For the first time in many years, the city is preparing to sign a deal that would let cattle graze on municipal land.
About two dozen head of cattle have been chewing through the field at 256 Matthews St. for a long while, officials said, and their owners would like to let them stay there.
But the property recently changed hands when the city purchased it this summer as part of the site of the proposed kindergarten to eighth grade school for West Bristol.
For the cattle to stay, the city has to offer the farmers, Doug Weigert and Robert Avolt, a license to use the land.
The farmers have been paying $350 in annual rent to cover the cost of the property taxes on the land, according to city officials.
The city’s Real Estate Committee agreed to urge city councilors to back a deal that would let the animals stay at the same price but on a month-to-month agreement so the city could tell them to take a hoof when construction nears.
City Councilor Frank Nicastro, who heads the panel, said he has no problem letting the cattle stay as long as the farmers have sufficient insurance.
Edward Krawiecki, Jr, an assistant city attorney, said they’ve already shown the insurance paperwork so he anticipates no problems.
The farmers could not be reached for comment.
The city plans to construct one of two planned 900-student schools on the Matthews Street site by 2015 – and perhaps sooner – as part of a $130 million project that would close four older schools and shift half the K-8 students in town to new buildings.
The other school site is next door to the existing Greene-Hills School on Pine Street.
The new buildings would replace Memorial Boulevard Middle School and three aging primary schools O’Connell, Greene-Hills and Bingham.
The project is slated to begin in earnest only in 2013, but there has been talk of pushing the timetable up.
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Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
City to buy Dutton Avenue house
Two years after the city first indicated a desire to buy an old stone house at the entrance to Rockwell Park, councilors are poised to follow through on the $218,000 deal.
The delay was caused by a family dispute over the fate of the 15 Dutton Ave. house – a dispute that’s not completely settled – but officials are no longer willing to wait for a clear resolution.
“My patience on this matter has reached an end,” said city Councilor Mike Rimcoski. “The time has come.”
The Real Estate Committee has asked councilors to approve the purchase of the Bevivino family house at the Sept. 8 City Council meeting. Normally, councilors go along with committee recommendations.
The city would like to buy the Dutton Avenue house where the Bevivino family has lived for decades, tear it down and use the property for the historic park.
It has already bought an adjacent lot from the family for $63,000.
Salvatore Vitrano, the attorney who represents three of the four siblings who jointly own the house, said “a great deal of misinformation” has been spread through the community about the deal.
He said that all four siblings signed an agreement approved by a state judge in February 2008 to sell the house to the city for its assessed value. But one, Jan Bevivino, is living in the house and trying to get a mortgage so she can buy it instead.
Vitrano said the rest of the family would rather sell it to her than the city, but it appears she can’t get a mortgage approved.
Jan Bevivino said that her first application was turned down and another is in the works. She said, though, that money is tight and it’s hard to get approved.
“I’m having a hard time,” she told the real estate panel.
Councilors said they sympathized with her, but the reality of the situation is that if the city doesn’t buy the house, it will be sold on the open market instead.
“We’ve been very patient. We’ve waited and waited and waited,” said city Councilor Frank Nicastro, who heads the panel.
He said if the city doesn’t act “somebody else is going to get” the house instead, which would prevent the city from taking a key property at the gateway to the park.
Rimcoski said that Jan Bevivino has more time to get the financing in place to buy it herself. He said that if she can get a mortgage approved before the council meeting, he’s sure she’ll be able to buy the house.
The city is in the middle of a multi-year, $7 million project to remake Rockwell Park by adding more recreational facilities, better parking, a nicer entrance and other amenities aimed at restoring the historic West End park and bolstering its use.
Park Director Ed Swicklas has said the 15 Dutton Ave. property would make a good addition to the park.
If the city buys the house next month, there are only two other pieces of property it has indicated it would like to have to open up the park entrance and enhance neighboring Muzzy Field – a small apartment building and a former gas station.
Officials have said the city’s policy is to try to buy them when they come on the market. The city is already working on the possible purchase of the gas station.
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Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
The delay was caused by a family dispute over the fate of the 15 Dutton Ave. house – a dispute that’s not completely settled – but officials are no longer willing to wait for a clear resolution.
“My patience on this matter has reached an end,” said city Councilor Mike Rimcoski. “The time has come.”
The Real Estate Committee has asked councilors to approve the purchase of the Bevivino family house at the Sept. 8 City Council meeting. Normally, councilors go along with committee recommendations.
The city would like to buy the Dutton Avenue house where the Bevivino family has lived for decades, tear it down and use the property for the historic park.
It has already bought an adjacent lot from the family for $63,000.
Salvatore Vitrano, the attorney who represents three of the four siblings who jointly own the house, said “a great deal of misinformation” has been spread through the community about the deal.
He said that all four siblings signed an agreement approved by a state judge in February 2008 to sell the house to the city for its assessed value. But one, Jan Bevivino, is living in the house and trying to get a mortgage so she can buy it instead.
Vitrano said the rest of the family would rather sell it to her than the city, but it appears she can’t get a mortgage approved.
Jan Bevivino said that her first application was turned down and another is in the works. She said, though, that money is tight and it’s hard to get approved.
“I’m having a hard time,” she told the real estate panel.
Councilors said they sympathized with her, but the reality of the situation is that if the city doesn’t buy the house, it will be sold on the open market instead.
“We’ve been very patient. We’ve waited and waited and waited,” said city Councilor Frank Nicastro, who heads the panel.
He said if the city doesn’t act “somebody else is going to get” the house instead, which would prevent the city from taking a key property at the gateway to the park.
Rimcoski said that Jan Bevivino has more time to get the financing in place to buy it herself. He said that if she can get a mortgage approved before the council meeting, he’s sure she’ll be able to buy the house.
The city is in the middle of a multi-year, $7 million project to remake Rockwell Park by adding more recreational facilities, better parking, a nicer entrance and other amenities aimed at restoring the historic West End park and bolstering its use.
Park Director Ed Swicklas has said the 15 Dutton Ave. property would make a good addition to the park.
If the city buys the house next month, there are only two other pieces of property it has indicated it would like to have to open up the park entrance and enhance neighboring Muzzy Field – a small apartment building and a former gas station.
Officials have said the city’s policy is to try to buy them when they come on the market. The city is already working on the possible purchase of the gas station.
*******
Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
July 22, 2009
Slogging through the real estate lists
The city is, once again, trying to sell off surplus property.
The problem is figuring out what’s surplus and what’s worth keeping.
As the three-person Real Estate Committee slogged through a long list of municipal property this week, its members tried to figure out what could be sold.
One piece consisted of just 85 square feet.
“We could plant a tomato plant there,” city Councilor Mike Rimcoski said.
A city lawyer, Edward Krawiecki, Jr, said the city could try to sell it to neighbors, but in the end it might make sense to give it away so it would wind up on the tax rolls.
Every little bit helps, after all.
Elsewhere on the list, officials discovered one piece listed for possible sale contained Jennings School. Another had a city pump station.
Those wound up on the must-keep list, of course, but the exercise wasn’t entirely fruitless.
The panel had no trouble deciding that a three-bedroom bungalow at 406 Broad St., taken in a foreclosure action last month, should go out for sale right away.
“Right now, we’re not getting taxes on it. We’re not doing anything with it,” said city Councilor Frank Nicastro, who chairs the committee.
Krawiecki said the boarded-up Broad Street house -- taken because its former owner didn’t keep up with taxes -- is worth $75,000, according to a recent assessment.
The city is likely to seek buyers for it within the next couple of months.
Over the past few years, the city has hauled in hundreds of thousands of dollars by selling off surplus property, but as the best sites have been sold off, what’s left isn’t as attractive.
Much of the land is swampy, steep or right beside parks or open space and perhaps best kept in its natural state for the long haul, officials said.
One thing that they’re looking for, though, are parcels that may be attractive to neighbors who could use them just to expand their holdings.
Sometimes, for example, the city owns tracts alongside a stream that can’t even be reached from the street. They probably can’t be used for homes or other structures.
But, officials said, the people who live beside the parcels might like to buy them anyway just to make sure they stay the way they are. That would put the property on the tax rolls at least, councilors said.
Meantime, the panel is continuing its review of what the city owns.
One piece on the list is a vacant lot on Dutton Avenue, beside Rockwell Park.
“We own that now,” Nicastro said, following last year’s decision by the council to buy it for future use by the park.
“So now the question is: do we want to sell it?” Krawiecki said, smiling.
Councilors just laughed.
*******
Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
The problem is figuring out what’s surplus and what’s worth keeping.
As the three-person Real Estate Committee slogged through a long list of municipal property this week, its members tried to figure out what could be sold.
One piece consisted of just 85 square feet.
“We could plant a tomato plant there,” city Councilor Mike Rimcoski said.
A city lawyer, Edward Krawiecki, Jr, said the city could try to sell it to neighbors, but in the end it might make sense to give it away so it would wind up on the tax rolls.
Every little bit helps, after all.
Elsewhere on the list, officials discovered one piece listed for possible sale contained Jennings School. Another had a city pump station.
Those wound up on the must-keep list, of course, but the exercise wasn’t entirely fruitless.
The panel had no trouble deciding that a three-bedroom bungalow at 406 Broad St., taken in a foreclosure action last month, should go out for sale right away.
“Right now, we’re not getting taxes on it. We’re not doing anything with it,” said city Councilor Frank Nicastro, who chairs the committee.
Krawiecki said the boarded-up Broad Street house -- taken because its former owner didn’t keep up with taxes -- is worth $75,000, according to a recent assessment.
The city is likely to seek buyers for it within the next couple of months.
Over the past few years, the city has hauled in hundreds of thousands of dollars by selling off surplus property, but as the best sites have been sold off, what’s left isn’t as attractive.
Much of the land is swampy, steep or right beside parks or open space and perhaps best kept in its natural state for the long haul, officials said.
One thing that they’re looking for, though, are parcels that may be attractive to neighbors who could use them just to expand their holdings.
Sometimes, for example, the city owns tracts alongside a stream that can’t even be reached from the street. They probably can’t be used for homes or other structures.
But, officials said, the people who live beside the parcels might like to buy them anyway just to make sure they stay the way they are. That would put the property on the tax rolls at least, councilors said.
Meantime, the panel is continuing its review of what the city owns.
One piece on the list is a vacant lot on Dutton Avenue, beside Rockwell Park.
“We own that now,” Nicastro said, following last year’s decision by the council to buy it for future use by the park.
“So now the question is: do we want to sell it?” Krawiecki said, smiling.
Councilors just laughed.
*******
Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
July 21, 2009
Real estate panel: This time we mean it
Last July, city councilors said they were tired of delays and planned to buy an old stone house next to Rockwell Park for $218,000 within days.
Tuesday, exactly one year later, the city’s Real Estate Committee repeated the threat. But this time, its members said, they mean it.
“We want an answer one way or another,” said city Councilor Frank Nicastro, who chairs the three-person panel.
The city would like to buy the Dutton Avenue house where the Bevivino family has lived for decades, tear it down and use the property for the historic park.
It has already bought an adjacent lot from the family for $63,000.
The hitch has been that one family member, Jan Bevivino, has pleaded for time to arrange financing so she can purchase the family home instead. She lives there, but has siblings who are co-owners.
A judge gave Jan Bevivino until June 2008 to buy the house or it would be sold to the city or a private buyer.
That deadline proved too tight so city councilors agreed to wait. But they’re not willing to give her much more time.
“I reached the end six months ago,” said city Councilor Mike Rimcoski. “We bent over backwards.”
The committee has repeatedly said it doesn’t want to get in the middle of a family Lawyer Salvatore Vitrano, who represents the rest of the family in the case, has repeatedly said that Jan Bevivino’s failure to come up with the money gives the city a green light to move ahead with the deal.
Jan Bevivino has said she is trying to get the financing together. It’s been complicated, she said, but she is apparently still trying.
Vitrano said that a decision needs to be made by mid-August to bring the issue to a close.
The real estate panel, which consists of Nicastro, Rimcoski and Councilor Kevin McCauley – unanimously agreed Tuesday to make a decision at its next meeting, on Aug. 18.
Nicastro has said that buying the house would open up the entrance to Rockwell Park even further, leaving only a former gas station and a small apartment building for future city purchases to clear the way to both the park and Muzzy Field.
*******
Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
Tuesday, exactly one year later, the city’s Real Estate Committee repeated the threat. But this time, its members said, they mean it.
“We want an answer one way or another,” said city Councilor Frank Nicastro, who chairs the three-person panel.
The city would like to buy the Dutton Avenue house where the Bevivino family has lived for decades, tear it down and use the property for the historic park.
It has already bought an adjacent lot from the family for $63,000.
The hitch has been that one family member, Jan Bevivino, has pleaded for time to arrange financing so she can purchase the family home instead. She lives there, but has siblings who are co-owners.
A judge gave Jan Bevivino until June 2008 to buy the house or it would be sold to the city or a private buyer.
That deadline proved too tight so city councilors agreed to wait. But they’re not willing to give her much more time.
“I reached the end six months ago,” said city Councilor Mike Rimcoski. “We bent over backwards.”
The committee has repeatedly said it doesn’t want to get in the middle of a family Lawyer Salvatore Vitrano, who represents the rest of the family in the case, has repeatedly said that Jan Bevivino’s failure to come up with the money gives the city a green light to move ahead with the deal.
Jan Bevivino has said she is trying to get the financing together. It’s been complicated, she said, but she is apparently still trying.
Vitrano said that a decision needs to be made by mid-August to bring the issue to a close.
The real estate panel, which consists of Nicastro, Rimcoski and Councilor Kevin McCauley – unanimously agreed Tuesday to make a decision at its next meeting, on Aug. 18.
Nicastro has said that buying the house would open up the entrance to Rockwell Park even further, leaving only a former gas station and a small apartment building for future city purchases to clear the way to both the park and Muzzy Field.
*******
Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
September 3, 2008
If the city can find it, taxpayers can have it
A Plainville woman wants to give the city property on Rockwell Avenue worth almost $12,000 because she can’t find it.
“For years and years, we have not been able to find this piece of property,” said Maryanne Grace.
“We don’t know what it looks like,” she told the city’s Real Estate Committee recently while urging it to take the land off her hands.
The chairman of the panel, city Councilor Frank Nicastro, asked, “Nobody knows where it is?”
Though Grace said nobody’s been able to help her find it, the councilors on the committee said they felt uncomfortable accepting potentially valuable property that might even contain enough space to allow for a house to be built.
The lot, which is a little more than a tenth of an acre, is assessed by the city for $11,800. It is located at the end of Rockwell Avenue.
But Grace said that when she’s gone there to try to find it, she’s had no luck.
“Every lot was occupied and I could not find a vacant lot,” she said.
Nicastro said that she should hire a surveyor to go out and mark the lot’s boundaries so that she can see them clearly.
“You may have a more valuable piece of property than you realize,” Nicastro told her.
Grace said she tried to sell it in the past with no luck.
“How could you sell it if nobody knows where it is?” Nicastro said.
Grace said that she believes the lot isn’t desirable to anyone except perhaps the city.
“We don’t want it,” she said.
Jeff Steeg, an assistant city attorney, said that he “wouldn’t feel right” taking the land if it has value on the market. He said that Grace should consult a real estate professional to see what she needs to do to sell it.
Nicastro said that if Grace is determined to give it to the city, she should write a formal letter to his committee offering it at no cost.
He said, though, that she should first get a surveyor to flag the land for her.
If Grace still wants to donate it after that, Nicastro said, the city will consider it.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
July 21, 2008
City likely to buy Dutton Avenue house next month
City councilors are likely to approve a $218,000 deal to buy an old stone house next to Rockwell Park at their Aug. 12 meeting.
“This is great” for the city, said Councilor Frank Nicastro, chairman of the Real Estate Committee.
The city has already bought an adjacent lot for $63,000, a purchase that lawyers completed this summer after the council backed it months ago.
Officials have been eyeing both the house and the lot for a couple of years but wanted to make sure that the city wouldn’t land in the middle of a family dispute about the disposition of the property.
A judge gave Jan Bevivino until late June to buy the house that her family had long owned or else it would be sold to the city or a private buyer. Bevivino said she would still like to purchase the house, but couldn’t meet the deadline.
Lawyer Salvatore Vitrano, who represents the rest of the family in the case, said in a letter to the city that her failure to come up with the money gives the city a green light to move ahead with the deal.
The real estate panel, which consists of Nicastro and Councilors Kevin McCauley and Mike Rimcoski – unanimously urged the council to take the offer in August.
Nicastro said that buying the house would open up the entrance to Rockwell Park even further, leaving only a former gas station and a small apartment building for future city purchases to clear the way to both the park and Muzzy Field.
It appears the city would likely tear down the house once the purchase becomes final.
“It looks like it would come down,” McCauley has said.
*******
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
“This is great” for the city, said Councilor Frank Nicastro, chairman of the Real Estate Committee.
The city has already bought an adjacent lot for $63,000, a purchase that lawyers completed this summer after the council backed it months ago.
Officials have been eyeing both the house and the lot for a couple of years but wanted to make sure that the city wouldn’t land in the middle of a family dispute about the disposition of the property.
A judge gave Jan Bevivino until late June to buy the house that her family had long owned or else it would be sold to the city or a private buyer. Bevivino said she would still like to purchase the house, but couldn’t meet the deadline.
Lawyer Salvatore Vitrano, who represents the rest of the family in the case, said in a letter to the city that her failure to come up with the money gives the city a green light to move ahead with the deal.
The real estate panel, which consists of Nicastro and Councilors Kevin McCauley and Mike Rimcoski – unanimously urged the council to take the offer in August.
Nicastro said that buying the house would open up the entrance to Rockwell Park even further, leaving only a former gas station and a small apartment building for future city purchases to clear the way to both the park and Muzzy Field.
It appears the city would likely tear down the house once the purchase becomes final.
“It looks like it would come down,” McCauley has said.
*******
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
January 18, 2008
Biggest real estate deal in Bristol's history took place this week
The biggest real estate deal in the city’s history took place this week.Fourteen months after the former General Motors factory on Chippens Hill changed hands for $28 million, it’s been sold again, for more than twice as much.
Mayor Art Ward said Friday the old factory – now called the Bristol Business Center – was sold this week to a group of real estate investors for $60.5 million.
The ownership shuffle of the 780 James P. Casey Road factory has some immediate significance as well because the city earned $302,500 from the conveyance tax alone, he said.
Ward called it “a windfall to the community” that should help finance officials find the cash to pay high snow removal bills or repay ESPN some of the $890,000 the city owes to the sports giant.
On paper the deal simply shows that Bristol Industrial Partners, LLC sold the former factory to Bristol Center, LLC for the record amount.
The mayor said that “it speaks well for the community” that a group of New York City real estate investors would think highly enough of Bristol to put so much money into the factory, which has been filled since Clark Steel moved into the remaining vacant space last summer.
In November 2006, Bristol Industrial Associates, LLC sold the property for $28.3 million to a joint venture of Hudson Realty Capital of Hackensack, NJ and Savanna Partners of New York City.
The 1.2-million-square foot building is home to Firestone Building Products Co., Arett Sales, Clark Steel and some other companies.
The factory was empty in the mid-1990s after General Motors shut down its ball-bearing manufacturing operation there.
The company sold the empty building to S.F. Bristol for about $4 million in 1997. S.F. Bristol sold the property six years later for $23.5 million, according to assessment records.
As of Oct. 1, the property was appraised by the city for $38.28 million, which apparently was significantly lower than its market value.
The single-story factory was built in 1967. It has had substantial upgrades in the past decade.
Here's the appraisal information on the property
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Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
*******
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
December 20, 2007
Finance board skeptical of buying house
An effort by city leaders to buy an old three-decker house next door to Muzzy Field is being greeted with skepticism by the Board of Finance.
Fiscal overseers recently refused to approve a $205,000 proposal to buy the house at 262 Park Street, but reserved the right to reconsider the move later.
Finance board members said they didn't have enough information about the Park Board's plans for the property or its vision for the area surrounding Muzzy Field and Rockwell Park.
"What's the overall plan?" asked Janet Moylan, a finance commissioner.
Mayor Art Ward said the purchase is part of a long-term effort to snap up the private property between Muzzy Field and Park Street when it's available for sale. He said several other parcels have already been purchased over the years.
"The goal is to open up that whole frontage," Ward said, to make the historic ballpark easier to see and appreciate from the road.
In addition, park officials have said they would like to build a small sports museum outside the gates to the ballpark someday.
The city's Real Estate Committee agreed in March to ask the mayor to negotiate with the three-decker house's owner, Richard Ferrucci, who is seeking $200,000 for the house. Finance officials were asked to tack on another $5,000 to pay for closing costs.
Both the Park Board and the City Council have given their blessing to the proposal.
Mark Peterson, a finance commissioner, said that more money will be needed to knock down the house and make the lot attractive.
Finance Chairman Rich Miecznikowski said the city could pay for the purchase with interest that has piled up in a capital improvements fund, but that once that's tapped out, there isn't money for "any other large items."
He said that if the finance board backs the purchase, every other significant request for cash will have to go through the budget process for possible inclusion in the city's spending plan that takes effect each July.
John Smith, who also serves on the finance board, said that there's an opportunity to buy the house now. Doing so would keep it from landing in the hands of another out-of-town landlord, a growing problem in town.
But skeptics carried the day, with Peterson, Ron Messier, Moylan and Finance Vice Chair Roald Erling voting no to match the four votes in favor. One member was absent at the session.
However, Messier revised his vote to table rather than kill the proposal, which allows the board to reconsider it more easily.
Another house the city is eyeing beside Rockwell Park, at 15 Dutton Avenue, is back in the hands of the Real Estate Committee, Ward said.
A family feud and court fight has made officials skittish of pushing forward with its purchase.
*******
Copyright 2007. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
Fiscal overseers recently refused to approve a $205,000 proposal to buy the house at 262 Park Street, but reserved the right to reconsider the move later.
Finance board members said they didn't have enough information about the Park Board's plans for the property or its vision for the area surrounding Muzzy Field and Rockwell Park.
"What's the overall plan?" asked Janet Moylan, a finance commissioner.
Mayor Art Ward said the purchase is part of a long-term effort to snap up the private property between Muzzy Field and Park Street when it's available for sale. He said several other parcels have already been purchased over the years.
"The goal is to open up that whole frontage," Ward said, to make the historic ballpark easier to see and appreciate from the road.
In addition, park officials have said they would like to build a small sports museum outside the gates to the ballpark someday.
The city's Real Estate Committee agreed in March to ask the mayor to negotiate with the three-decker house's owner, Richard Ferrucci, who is seeking $200,000 for the house. Finance officials were asked to tack on another $5,000 to pay for closing costs.
Both the Park Board and the City Council have given their blessing to the proposal.
Mark Peterson, a finance commissioner, said that more money will be needed to knock down the house and make the lot attractive.
Finance Chairman Rich Miecznikowski said the city could pay for the purchase with interest that has piled up in a capital improvements fund, but that once that's tapped out, there isn't money for "any other large items."
He said that if the finance board backs the purchase, every other significant request for cash will have to go through the budget process for possible inclusion in the city's spending plan that takes effect each July.
John Smith, who also serves on the finance board, said that there's an opportunity to buy the house now. Doing so would keep it from landing in the hands of another out-of-town landlord, a growing problem in town.
But skeptics carried the day, with Peterson, Ron Messier, Moylan and Finance Vice Chair Roald Erling voting no to match the four votes in favor. One member was absent at the session.
However, Messier revised his vote to table rather than kill the proposal, which allows the board to reconsider it more easily.
Another house the city is eyeing beside Rockwell Park, at 15 Dutton Avenue, is back in the hands of the Real Estate Committee, Ward said.
A family feud and court fight has made officials skittish of pushing forward with its purchase.
*******
Copyright 2007. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
December 3, 2007
Ken Karl's house valued by city at $174K
Though Ken Karl said today he hasn't received his revaluation notice, the website listing the new city assessments says the city pegged the value of the 313 Main St. house the city just knocked down at $173,900.
That was its value on October 1.
A month later, the city demolished the oldest house on Main Street because, officials said, it was too dangerous to leave standing.
Then again, the city-owned, vacant lot between Karl's property and Steve Coan's house, a little more than a third of an acre, is worth $127K, according to the assessor. So the house on Karl's lot didn't add a whole lot of value.
*******
Copyright 2007. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
That was its value on October 1.
A month later, the city demolished the oldest house on Main Street because, officials said, it was too dangerous to leave standing.
Then again, the city-owned, vacant lot between Karl's property and Steve Coan's house, a little more than a third of an acre, is worth $127K, according to the assessor. So the house on Karl's lot didn't add a whole lot of value.
*******
Copyright 2007. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
December 1, 2007
Reval records are online now
The appraisal data for Bristol is online now, so everyone can jump on their computers to check their own property records here.
Then, and this is where it gets fun, they can also check on anyone else they like.
Naturally, I immediately thought I’d like to know about the politicians in town. But since it’s Saturday, I decided to settle first only for the last few mayors’ homes to see how they stack up.
Mayor Art Ward’s 1978 ranch house at 322 Stevens Street is valued at $255,400.
Former Mayor William Stortz’s 1983 colonial at 31 Oxbow Drive is valued at $345,600.
Former Mayor Frank Nicastro’s 1936 Cape at 80 Beleden Gardens Drive is valued at $244,900. And former Mayor John Leone’s 1975 ranch at 60 Maureen Drive is valued at $312,700.
They’re all living in homes worth just a bit more than average in town, but not by much. I don’t know if that’s good or bad.
Also, because the computer doesn’t offer the assessment from the last time around, I can’t easily tell whether their taxes will rise slower, faster or the same as the norm. We’ll have to look into that later.
Feel free to look up other public officials. We're all curious.
*******
Copyright 2007. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
Then, and this is where it gets fun, they can also check on anyone else they like.
Naturally, I immediately thought I’d like to know about the politicians in town. But since it’s Saturday, I decided to settle first only for the last few mayors’ homes to see how they stack up.
Mayor Art Ward’s 1978 ranch house at 322 Stevens Street is valued at $255,400.
Former Mayor William Stortz’s 1983 colonial at 31 Oxbow Drive is valued at $345,600.
Former Mayor Frank Nicastro’s 1936 Cape at 80 Beleden Gardens Drive is valued at $244,900. And former Mayor John Leone’s 1975 ranch at 60 Maureen Drive is valued at $312,700.
They’re all living in homes worth just a bit more than average in town, but not by much. I don’t know if that’s good or bad.
Also, because the computer doesn’t offer the assessment from the last time around, I can’t easily tell whether their taxes will rise slower, faster or the same as the norm. We’ll have to look into that later.
Feel free to look up other public officials. We're all curious.
*******
Copyright 2007. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
November 29, 2007
City begged not to buy Dutton Avenue house
A family feud may get in the way of city plans to purchase an old stone house next door to Rockwell Park.
“There is a huge family feud going on right now and unfortunately the city has ended up right smack in the middle of it,” said resident Jan Bevivino.
Bevivino, who lives in the house with her elderly father, said there is a “real family tragedy that has developed over money and the evils that it brings.”
Mayor Art Ward said that councilors won’t take up the proposed deal at the December 11 meeting as the Real Estate Committee recommended.
The real estate panel urged the city to pay $281,000 for the 15 Dutton Ave. house and a lot next door, but to let the elderly man remain in the home until he dies or moves away.Though Bevivino signed a court order in May that called for the sale, she said she was “kind of coerced into offering the adjoining lot” to the city but never agreed to sell the house.
Park Director Ed Swicklas said he would like to see the property added to the park.
But Bevivino said she intends to buy the house in about six months and hopes to avoid getting into a tussle over it with the city.
In an address to the Park Board, Bevivino said she moved from Massachusetts to Bristol in 2004 to help care for her ailing mother, losing her own home and savings as she shelled out for health care for her mother, who died last year.
She said other members of her family, who “live in Burlington in their beautiful homes” didn’t lend a hand.
Bevivino said that other family members, who must “be starving and unable to feed their families,” want to sell the house rather than keep up with the property taxes on it.
Three other members of her family, she said, hired attorney Sal Vitrano, to work out a way to sell the house. The lawyer “doesn’t speak for me,” Bevivino added.
She said that she wants the city to buy the lot, but not the house, so there will be money to pay the taxes.
Bevivino said she wants the city to refuse to buy the house so she will have time to arrange to buy it.
“My family has abandoned us for money,” she told park commissioners. “I can only hope that you will see the light.”
Excerpts from Bevivino's address to the Park Board:
* "The deal is far from signed, sealed and delivered. This property has been in our family since it was built 85 years ago, and I have no intention of letting go easily. Especially when I have no plans to live anywhere else."
* "It is with a heavy heart that I appear before you today to unveil the real family tragedy that has developed over money and the evils that it brings. The other parties in this property live in Burlington in their beautiful homes, and have completely cut themselves off from the responsibility that comes with elderly parents. My brother, who wanted nothing to do with his ailing mother or father, has to pay for his 150-foot yacht for the winter. He must need the cash to pay for the boat. What else could it be?"
* "I can only surmise that my family members are starving and unable to feed their families under the weight of these [property] taxes. My dad and I are the ones who pay for the upkeep and all the expenses of this property."
* "I do not want to sell the house to the park at this time. I would like to buy the house from my family members and remain there even after my dad is gone."
* "I guess the only way to break that court order is for the city to refuse to get involved."
*******
Copyright 2007. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
“There is a huge family feud going on right now and unfortunately the city has ended up right smack in the middle of it,” said resident Jan Bevivino.
Bevivino, who lives in the house with her elderly father, said there is a “real family tragedy that has developed over money and the evils that it brings.”
Mayor Art Ward said that councilors won’t take up the proposed deal at the December 11 meeting as the Real Estate Committee recommended.
The real estate panel urged the city to pay $281,000 for the 15 Dutton Ave. house and a lot next door, but to let the elderly man remain in the home until he dies or moves away.Though Bevivino signed a court order in May that called for the sale, she said she was “kind of coerced into offering the adjoining lot” to the city but never agreed to sell the house.
Park Director Ed Swicklas said he would like to see the property added to the park.
But Bevivino said she intends to buy the house in about six months and hopes to avoid getting into a tussle over it with the city.
In an address to the Park Board, Bevivino said she moved from Massachusetts to Bristol in 2004 to help care for her ailing mother, losing her own home and savings as she shelled out for health care for her mother, who died last year.
She said other members of her family, who “live in Burlington in their beautiful homes” didn’t lend a hand.
Bevivino said that other family members, who must “be starving and unable to feed their families,” want to sell the house rather than keep up with the property taxes on it.
Three other members of her family, she said, hired attorney Sal Vitrano, to work out a way to sell the house. The lawyer “doesn’t speak for me,” Bevivino added.
She said that she wants the city to buy the lot, but not the house, so there will be money to pay the taxes.
Bevivino said she wants the city to refuse to buy the house so she will have time to arrange to buy it.
“My family has abandoned us for money,” she told park commissioners. “I can only hope that you will see the light.”
Excerpts from Bevivino's address to the Park Board:
* "The deal is far from signed, sealed and delivered. This property has been in our family since it was built 85 years ago, and I have no intention of letting go easily. Especially when I have no plans to live anywhere else."
* "It is with a heavy heart that I appear before you today to unveil the real family tragedy that has developed over money and the evils that it brings. The other parties in this property live in Burlington in their beautiful homes, and have completely cut themselves off from the responsibility that comes with elderly parents. My brother, who wanted nothing to do with his ailing mother or father, has to pay for his 150-foot yacht for the winter. He must need the cash to pay for the boat. What else could it be?"
* "I can only surmise that my family members are starving and unable to feed their families under the weight of these [property] taxes. My dad and I are the ones who pay for the upkeep and all the expenses of this property."
* "I do not want to sell the house to the park at this time. I would like to buy the house from my family members and remain there even after my dad is gone."
* "I guess the only way to break that court order is for the city to refuse to get involved."
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Copyright 2007. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
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