The City Council voted to enroll a Linkage Fee ordinance for residential and commercial properties after many years of discussion – and some rather intense negotiations over the last two weeks.
The Council voted 10-1 Monday night to enroll the Linkage Fee ordinance, with Councilor Gerly Adrien voting against. Linkage Fees are a surcharge on, in this case, commercial and residential development, and for Everett, the money collected would only be able to go to funding affordable housing projects.
The matter came before the Council after having hit the agenda two weeks ago, and many legislators seeing changes for the first time made by Mayor Carlo DeMaria. That put a road block in the discussion, with the mayor advocating for quick action. After a Committee meeting last week that went into detail, the matter was brought forward on Monday night again.
Special to the Independent
Mayor Carlo DeMaria proudly hosted the groundbreaking of The 600 development at the future 600 Broadway location on January 25. The City of Everett has been working diligently with the development team, A10 Associates, Volnay Capital, and Context, to begin this project.
Mayor Carlo DeMaria and the development team, John Tocco and Ricky Beliveau, at the
groundbreaking on Monday with City officials.
A rendering of the mixed-use apartment building at the top of Broadway.
“It was very exciting to host the groundbreaking of The 600,” said Mayor DeMaria. “I have been looking forward to this day since the planning stages began. The 600 will be located in the heart of the City and it will be a fantastic addition to our community.”
The 600 residential mixed-use project on the top of the Broadway hill has received financing and closed on the property late last week, according to owners of the development company.
John Tocco said he and his business partner, Rich Volnay, now own the property at 600 Broadway, and have also officially launched a new development company called V10 Development.
“We now own the property and we expect to have a groundbreaking ceremony tentatively scheduled for the end of January pending the COVID-19 situation,” said Tocco. “We’re ready to go. We’re ready to rock and roll.”
The project sits on a section of Broadway near McKinnon’s and DiBlasio’s that hasn’t seen new investment in decades – aside from the 600 and a similar residential project across the street form Greg Antonelli. The 600 is an 85-unit new construction building, with 37 parking spaces, on two lots that are now a doctor’s house office and a one-story professional building. The project would also i