Merrimack Paper Co.
While it is sad having lost another historical building in Lawrence, we must admit that it was a good thing that the fire destroyed it because it was an eyesore. Perhaps now something beneficial could be done for the city.
I am including a chart with the history of tax payments from this property owner since 2002. It is difficult to understand that they simply stopped paying their obligations without being taken before a judge or have the property taken over by eminent domain. Instead, it was allowed to accumulate over $5 million in debt.
This was just a sample of many property owners and slum landlords who were negligent on their commitment and eventually the buildings were consumed by fire, taken over by the city in lieu of taxes or just demolished to erase the pending bill – as it happened on two buildings on Jackson St., by the Spicket River. Today it is an empty lot but in 1996 there were several families living on those homes and they had to move out in order to raze them. The owner, a former city councilor, owed around $50,000 and decided giving them to the city instead of paying. Even though State Representative Jose Santiago and City Council President Joseph Quartarone put up a fight, Mayor Dowling insisted in demolishing them rather than sell them. We could not understand that, either.
If a resident falls behind with a water bill, the city has the right to attach it to the property tax bill thus collecting eventually. If they don’t pay the property tax, they can place a lien on the property and if they want to refinance or sell the property, the city gets paid. Of course, it will not be for those many years before they take legal action!
Mayor Dan Rivera has a golden opportunity now to do something great. That’s a choice property by the river that could produce tax revenue.
