Peabody Ward 4 Councilor Julie Daigle is asking Hemisphere Development for answers about what she and neighbors are calling unsafe conditions at the former J.B. Thomas Hospital and Curahealth Boston North Shore property on King Street, the site of Hemisphere’s proposed 133-unit condominium complex.
Daigle said she is receiving calls on a regular basis from neighbors all across Ward 4 complaining of trash, a rodent infestation, unsafe conditions of the chain link and other fences, and the fact that the doors of the building are not secure.
She noted that the main door has been open at times, making for dangerous conditions considering two schools are located within a half-mile of the property. She described the property as an “attractive nuisance.”
Daigle said she had contacted Hemisphere and its attorney on multiple occasions, and made two motions in City Council for updates on the project’s status.
“The residents have been extremely patient with the project while having to look at the eye sore at 15 King St. every day,” Daigle said. “I think the neighbors deserve a better update than what I’ve provided, and I will share one as soon as the developer responds to my requests.”
After purchasing the property in December 2017 for $1.9 million following Curahealth’s closing earlier that year, Hemisphere initially pitched several options for an age-restricted 55+ condominium development.
In 2018, the Boston developer initially proposed building 150 units on the 3.2-acre site, but subsequently scaled down the number of units on four separate occasions to eventually reach 110. This followed concerns from Emerson Park residents over traffic congestion and parking.
In November 2019, the city’s Housing Production Plan called for an increased number of affordable rental units to address the fact that many residents were having serious difficulty finding affordable housing in Peabody. In response, the developer reached out to Peabody residents seeking feedback.
Hemisphere said it “conducted surveys, mailers and digital messages to residents and … continue to hear from hundreds of residents who want more affordable housing in the city – many as high as 25 percent affordable on any project.”
In January 2020, Hemisphere announced it was shifting gears and moving forward with plans to build 133 units of housing under Chapter 40B, the state’s affordable housing law.
In a Jan. 6 statement announcing the change of direction, Hemisphere stated that due to required site costs and cleanup, their only option was to build some type of multi residential project.
“Given the continued opposition to the age-restricted condo project, we have filed intent with MassHousing to build 133 units at the site to meet both the requirements of affordable housing guidelines, and to follow the guidance of the Peabody Housing Production draft,” the statement said.
Daigle said that representatives for Hemisphere Development say their plans to build the condominium complex are moving forward. According to the company, she says, it is currently receiving bids to remove underground storage tanks at the site first, before proceeding with demolition of the existing buildings.
“Before any new construction begins, Hemisphere will be required to obtain all necessary building permits from the city,” said Daigle. “As Ward 4 city councilor, I will work to ensure that Hemisphere adheres to all public health and safety requirements outlined in their permits, including a comprehensive rodent control program and any fire and hazardous material mitigation which may be required.”
Daigle said she will also ensure that “Hemisphere abides by its obligation to help the city finance traffic safety improvements at the intersections of Lowell, King, and Endicott streets.
“I will continue to provide updates as the project proceeds,” she added.
Daigle encourages residents to reach out to her with any questions, concerns, or complaints at julie.daigle@peabody-ma.gov or 617-291-1271.
