The Region's Largest Weekly Distribution Another glourious week of... The Town Common PRST STD. U.S. POSTAGE PAID NEWBURYPORT, MA PERMIT NO. 51 ____________ LARGEST DISTRIBUTION ACROSS THE NORTH SHORE OF MA & COASTAL NH www.thetowncommon.com July 18 - 24, 2018 Vol. 14, No. 38 FREE Yankee Homecoming Honors Those Who Serve By stewart Lytle, reporter ––––––––––––––––– Storey Avenue: A Village Center or Retail Strip Mall? By stewart Lytle, reporter ––––––––––––––––– POSTAL CUSTOMER Bulldozers break ground at 29-35 Storey Ave. NEWBURYPORT – Bulldozers have begun digging the foundation for a new retail strip center on Storey Avenue next to Port Plaza. Plans for the Storey Avenue Marketplace Shops, between Wendy’s and McDonald’s, include a medical clinic, restaurant and a retail shop. Work on the foundation of the new building brings to an end a long fight over this parcel between the city of Newburyport and the landowner, Richard and David Kaplan, trustees for Plaza Realty Development Trust, which also owns the adjacent Port Plaza. Port Plaza is home to Shaw’s, Planet Fitness and a variety of smaller shops. It also includes the vacant Kmart store, whose lease is up next month. The Kaplans have owned the property since September 2002. And initially its plans for the 1.3-acre property, which included a bank with a drive-through teller, were approved by the city. Like many one-level retail centers, built over the last few decades, the Storey Avenue Photo by Stewart Lytle Marketplace Shops are designed to look like the rest of Port Plaza, rows of stores beside large parking lots. Urban planners call these retail malls “automobile-centric,” where car access is top priority. Around 2014, the city’s view of Storey Avenue, a gateway to the city from I- 95, began to change. Planning Director Andrew Port, who was new to the city, developed a different concept for Storey Avenue. Under his vision, the gateway would look more like a “village center.” That required that any new buildings, including 29-35 Storey Ave., should be close to the street with a sidewalk to encourage pedestrians. Parking would be in the rear of the building. The new Institution for Savings Building and adjacent Provident Bank were the model. The buildings were close to Storey Avenue and limited the parking to the side or rear of the buildings. Sidewalks along the avenue allowed for safer pedestrian traffic. Continued on page 3 Donnie Jarvis with one of the Challenge Coins REGIONAL – There are many reasons people look forward to Yankee Homecoming every summer. Between July 28 through Aug. 5, friends and family from throughout the North Shore gather to enjoy concerts on the Merrimack River waterfront, family day at Maudslay Park, old fashion baseball games, kayak and paddle board races. There are arts and crafts shows, a kids’ talent show, a parade down High Street and fireworks over the Merrimack River. And the popular Brewfest raises money selling craft beers to pay for it all. Yankee Homecoming, whose theme this year is “Celebrate Seaport Pride,” is also a time when the community honors those who serve, those who have risked their lives to keep us safe and make lives better. Two events on back-to-back days next week showcase the Yankee Homecoming spirit and prove it is more than a citywide party. Photo by Stewart Lytle The Yankee Homecoming Board of Directors honors two outstanding high school seniors each year with the Youth Service Award for their commitment to public service and volunteerism. The other event is the annual Veterans Luncheon, which honors veterans and their service to their country. Donnie Jarvis, who is chairing the veterans luncheon for the third year, said, “This is my favorite event. This is a really big deal for me.” Jarvis, a wounded veteran himself who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, said, “I am very passionate about the veteran’s community.” This luncheon honors veterans from throughout the North Shore, he said. The Veteran’s Luncheon will be held from noon to 2 p.m., July 31, at the Hope Community Church, 11 Hale Street, Newburyport. The Youth Service Award recipients will Continued on page 3 You'll "flip" over the digital edition at TheTownCommon.com
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