Will Beverly become just another concrete jungle?
Mayor Michael Cahill is the incumbent Mayor of the City of Beverly. He assumed office in January of 2014 and could be the first Mayor of Beverly to serve six terms if reelected in 2023. His political party is Democratic.
As the Mayor attempts to solve the housing crisis in Beverly, most of his constituents are sounding out about their displeasure with several 5-story luxury apartment complexes built in recent years in the downtown area.
As of September 16, 2023, the Beverly Projects Development webpage lists many approved projects that will begin or have already begun, including four more 5-story luxury apartment complexes. A total of 334 units will be available near Rantoul and Cabot Streets. An area already overdeveloped.[1]
There’s also the land that the now-closed Bowl-O-Mat and an auto body shop sit on that has been sold for $5.5 million to an Atlanta-based apartment developer with plans to build housing along the Bass River after the city has completed its re-zoning phase.[2]
During a public meeting, the Mayor’s constituents spoke about a proposal for limiting the buildings to three stories, but it fell on deaf ears. The Boston Globe wrote about this building obsession in January 2023:
“Beverly has built a lot of new housing lately. Now some there say it’s time to slow down.
“Those worries crystallized last summer when a developer announced plans for a five-story apartment building on a main downtown street. And now they’ve prompted a City Council proposal to cut maximum building heights across the city from five stories down to three, or 35 feet.
“There is a growing movement of residents and public officials who are hoping to pump the brakes on new housing development.” A representative of a ward on the east side of Beverly commented how “he regularly fields complaints about poorly-maintained streets and public properties — including a bridge that connects the city’s west side with downtown that was shut down last year by the state due to disrepair — which he attributed to the city failing to properly plan for growth.” [3]
Beverly residents are showing that they’ve had enough by displaying “Jamie Zarella for Mayor” yard signs on their front lawns and large banners on their fences throughout North Beverly, Ryal Side, Prides Crossing, The Cove, Beverly Farms, and all along the Beverly shoreline.
Remember to vote on Tuesday, September 26, 2023, in the preliminary election!
Stay tuned for more to follow about all the building going on in Beverly.
by Citizens for Truth Contributor
Sources:
[1] https://www.beverlyma.gov/338/Projects-Development
[3] https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/01/20/business/beverly-has-built-lot-new-housing-lately-now-some-there-say-its-time-slow-down/
Massachusetts First 
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